Fisheries priorities under the Luxembourg EU presidency
Luxembourg has taken the office of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union has taken office since Wednesday the 1st July 2015 until the 31st December 2015 (next Presidency is the Netherlands and Slovakia for the year 2016).
Regarding fisheries, the Presidency’s priorities are: The principle of sustainability will also guide the actions of the Luxembourg Presidency in the fisheries policy. It will take steps to bolster the new sustainability-based approach ensuring that, where possible, the principle of maximum sustainable yield lies at the heart of any decisions relating to fishing opportunities (TAC and quotas) for 2016.
An in-depth discussion on scientific data relating to the state of fish stocks should enable reasoned, transparent decisions to be taken.
The Luxembourg Presidency will also seek to reach an agreement on the issue of deep-sea fishing, guaranteeing the sustainable exploitation of these fish stocks.
Furthermore, the principles of simplification and balance of institutional competencies must be implemented in the negotiations on the multi-annual management plans for the Baltic Sea, as well as in the decisions aligning the acquis with the Treaty of Lisbon, in particular in relation to illegal and unregulated fishing and the regeneration of European eel stocks.
A presentation of the Presidency’s priorities are scheduled for July’s plenary session in Strasbourg.
Source and photo credit: Luxembourg Presidency