Memo: Agriculture and Fisheries Council, 13-14 May 2013

The Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting of May took place in Brussels on 13th and 14th May 2013, under the presidency of Mr Simon Coveney, Irish Minister of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The Commission was represented by Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Dacian Cioloş and Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Maria Damanaki.

On the 15 May 2013, it was reported that the EU ministers had agreed to a deal that would ban throwing unwanted fish back into the sea in a bid to end decades of overfishing. The agreement still needed the approval of the European Parliament.

• Primary Source

Deutsche Welle, 15.05.13: EU ministers agree on fishing policy overhaul http://dw.de/p/18Xyu

ESO: Background Information: Press Release: Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting, Luxembourg, 22 April 2013 http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-agriculture-and-fisheries-council-meeting-luxembourg-22-april-2013/

EurActiv, 15.05.13: EU ministers agree on overhaul of fishing rules http://www.euractiv.com/cap/eu-ministers-agree-overhaul-fish-news-519755

ESO: Background Information: Press Release: UK spearheads significant step forward in EU fish negotiations http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-uk-spearheads-significant-step-forward-in-eu-fish-negotiations/

UK, Scotland: The Scottish Government: News Release, 13.05.13: Sanctions a step closer http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2013/05/Fishsanctions13052013

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