Press Release: Fisheries Council, Brussels, 16-17.12.99

The Council adopted by qualified majority (the French delegation voting against), the Regulation fixing the Total Allowable Catches and quotas for the year 2000. For the first time a single Regulation brings together all measures concerning TACs for a year - that is, both for areas within the EU and also for areas where there are arrangements with Third Countries. The agreement will mean substantial cuts in catches for many species following scientific advice that existing arrangements were jeapardising the future of fishing in certain waters.

The Council took note of the Commission's intentions with regard to the launching of the negotiation process with Morocco for the future of fisheries relations with that country.

The Council adopted a Regulation laying down certain control measures applicable in the area covered by the Convention on Future Multilateral Co-operation in the North-East Atlantic Fisheries.

The Council adopted three Regulations fixing the guide prices for the 2000 fishing year + a Regulation on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products and a Regulation laying down the rules and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector.