Press Release: Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting, Luxembourg, 22 April 2013

Main results of the Council:

As regards agriculture, ministers were briefed by the Presidency on the state of play of the informal trilogue process on the reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP). The general approach reached by Council on 19 March 2013 gave a negotiating mandate to the Presidency for the trilogues on the CAP reform package with the other EU institutions with a view to reaching political agreement
in June this year.

Ministers were also briefed on the Commission proposal for CAP transitional measures for 2014, extending current CAP measures as adjusted to reflect the European Council conclusions on the MFF 2014-2020.

Concerning fisheries issues, the Council held a debate on the outcome of the first trilogues on the reform of the common fisheries policy (CFP) and on outstanding issues concerning the basic regulation of the CFP. On the basis of the support of the member states, the Presidency will
prepare an adjustment of the negotiating mandate for finalising an agreement at the end of May.

A communication for an action plan for reducing incidental catches of seabirds in fishing gears was also presented by the Commission. This plan proposes five specific actions in line with the CFP objective to minimise the impact of fisheries on the environment. Many member states agreed with the action proposed but pointed out the need for scientific data before any measure is proposed.

Finally member states expressed concerns about the current state of play of EU partnership agreements with Mauritania and Morocco.

Without discussion, the Council adopted a decision derogating temporarily from directive 2003/87/EC establishing the EU scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading. The decision seeks to reinforce the positive momentum within the International Civil Aviation
Organisation towards a global market-based approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the aviation sector.

EUObserver, 13.05.13: Inching towards a fisheries deal http://euobserver.com/opinion/120078

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