Verwachte overeenstemming voor Europees Fonds voor Maritieme Zaken en Visserij 2014-2020 (en)

Negotiations in the Agriculture and Fisheries Council (AGRIFISH) concerning the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) reform package have entered a final stage, as the Council is expected to reach an agreement on the package’s third element; the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF i) 2014- 2020.

The AGRIFISH Council meeting, which will take place on Monday 22 and Tuesday 23 of October in Luxembourg, will focus on the EMFF and will strive to reach a partial general approach.

Cyprus’ Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Minister, Mr. Sophocles Aletraris, who will be chairing the AGRIFISH Council meeting stated: “The new fund will help deliver the ambitious objectives of the reform of the CFP and of Europe 2020. Decisions have to be taken as soon as possible in order to facilitate immediate implementation when the fund will come in effect in 2014. An agreement by the Council on the fisheries part of the EMFF means that the Council will be ready to discuss with the European Parliament the CFP package in its entirety”

The EU Fisheries Ministers will negotiate the revised version of the Cyprus Presidency´s proposal for amendments to the Commission's legislative proposal for the EMFF. The debate will concentrate on some of the outstanding issues, such as fleet restructuring measures and measures concerning the common organisation of the fisheries market (CMO), in accordance with the results of the common approach agreement on the proposed regulations on the CFP and the CMO.

Hopes for agreement on fishing opportunities

Also, during the upcoming Council meeting, ministers will try to reach a political agreement on another important proposal on fishing opportunities for 2013 for certain fish stocks in the Baltic Sea. Finally, there will be an exchange of views on the annual consultations between the EU and Norway under their bilateral fisheries agreement and on the upcoming annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas.

Direct Payments Regulation on the table

Negotiations on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform will continue with two round table discussions in the Council on the direct payment regulation proposal.. Discussions on this issue will focus on two different aspects: the internal convergence for which Commission proposes that Member States achieve a uniform level of direct payments at regional or national level by 2019, and the young farmer scheme which helps this particular category of farmers to access to agriculture.

Another round table discussion is expected regarding the proposal on the regulation for the common organisation of the markets in agricultural products. Using the outcome of these debates, the Council is expected to adopt a partial general approach on the CAP Reform proposals before the end of the year under the Cyprus Presidency.