The AGRIFISH Council being held on Monday 18 September in Brussels is set to discuss annual fisheries negotiations
The Agriculture and Fisheries Council will be held on Monday 18 September in Brussels.
The meeting will be chaired by Luis Planas Puchades, the Acting Spanish Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The European Commission will be represented by Virginijus Sinkevičius, the Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, by Stella Kyriakides, the Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, and by Janusz Wojciechowski, the Commissioner for Agriculture.
The meeting will begin at 10.00 am. Following the adoption of A items, ministers will discuss the annual fisheries consultations for EU-UK and for EU-Norway and coastal states.
In public session, ministers will receive information from the Commission regarding the agricultural aspects of the directive on soil health and they will have the opportunity to hold a policy debate on the topic.
During the afternoon, the Council will discuss trade-related agricultural issues, based on information provided by the Commission. Ministers will also hold an exchange of views on the long-term vision for the EU’s rural areas.
Under other business, during a public session, ministers will receive information from the Spanish presidency on the UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment. Also in public session, ministers will receive information from the Slovenian delegation on the damage caused by recent extreme floods, from the Greek delegation on the impact of the recent natural disasters in the country, and from the Danish delegation on simplification and better regulation in EU common policies on food, agriculture and fisheries. Additionally, the Swedish delegation will update ministers on the African swine fever outbreak in this country.
Fisheries EU-UK: annual consultations on fishing opportunities for 2024
Ministers will hold an exchange of views on the management of fish stocks shared with the United Kingdom for 2024, in the context of the regular annual cycle of fishing opportunities consultations culminating in December. Following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, consultations between the EU and the UK on shared fish stocks take place annually, in line with the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. During the Council meeting, ministers will provide political guidance to the Commission on the EU’s position in the consultations, which are expected to take place between October and the beginning of December.
Fish stocks shared between the EU and the United Kingdom
EU-Norway and coastal states: annual consultations for 2024
Ministers will conduct an exchange of views on consultations with Norway and the coastal states for fishing opportunities in 2024. The ministers’ debate will offer political guidance and serve as a basis for establishing the EU’s position, which will be based on the best available scientific advice.
Annual fisheries consultations with Norway have undergone major changes since the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, with six stocks being managed trilaterally by the EU, Norway, and the UK. The bilateral EU-Norway consultations will deal with access to waters, the exchange of fishing opportunities, and total allowable catches for whiting, and other fishing arrangements in the Skagerrak and Kattegat. Consultations with coastal states will focus on blue whiting, Atlanto-Scandian herring and mackerel. The consultations are due to be held between October and the beginning of December.
