I am pleased to report that after some 36 hours of negotiations over Tuesday and Wednesday of this week 14th – 15th May, we have now secured a new mandate from EU Fisheries Ministers to enter final negotiations with the European Parliament on a reformed Common Fisheries Policy. This represents a major breakthrough in the negotiations and represents a considerable success for Ireland’s Presidency of the EU.
The new position drafted by the Council of Ministers is based on a revised 200 page compromise legal text which I presented to Fisheries Ministers early on Wednesday morning and I greatly welcome the support received from my EU Ministerial colleagues. This agreement follows very difficult and complex negotiations and amounts to a significant step forward on behalf of EU Fisheries Ministers. It enables further crucial negotiations with the European Parliament to take place which will hopefully lead to an agreed package of significant reforms being agreed in the coming weeks. This decision by the Council is a major conciliatory step in the direction of the European Parliament’s own position on the reforms and should hopefully pave the way for successful conclusion of the complex inter-institutional negotiations on the reform. It is evidence of the importance placed by Fisheries Ministers on ensuring that this radical package of measures is finally agreed.
The Irish Presidency has prioritised securing CFP reform before the end of its term and three-way talks (trilogues) between the Council, European Parliament and Commission will now continue with the aim of achieving that goal on the basis of this new position drafted by the Council of Ministers. The Council has recognised the practical challenges for fishermen and the potential socio-economic impacts in coastal communities during the negotiations over the past number of months. I believe that the historical package agreed with the Council of Ministers this week will prepare the way for a European wide discards ban, facilitate more sustainable fishing levels in addition to appropriate management of fleet capacity and a lead to a workable regionalisation policy. It will provide the framework for the long term sustainability of fish stocks around our shores, the continued economic viability of our fishing fleet and fish processing while supporting the communities that depend on a vibrant fishing industry. The package agreed this week will allow us to rebuild fish stocks in European waters and will allow for setting TACs and quotas to reflect catches when a landing obligation is introduced on the basis that for the first and subsequent years, discarding of that stock no longer be allowed. In the longer term as fish stocks reach and are maintained at healthy levels, it will support increased fishing opportunities for our fishermen.
It is important to emphasise that we are under no illusions as to the scale of the final challenge facing us in securing agreement with the European Parliament. The strong compromise mandate given to me this week however places a responsibility on our co-legislators in the European Parliament to show reciprocal flexibility to facilitate a successful conclusion on the Common Fisheries Policy reforms, which is the objective of both institutions. I remain cautiously optimistic that final agreement can be secured by the end of the Irish Presidency.
