European Commission
Damanaki

Coastal State consultations on mackerel in the North-East Atlantic in Bergen

31/01/2014

A further round of Coastal State consultations on mackerel sharing in the North-East Atlantic was held in Bergen on 28 to 31 January 2014. Despite all conditions being there for the Parties (European Union, Faroe Islands, Iceland and Norway) to reach a fair and balanced agreement on sharing the mackerel stock, a great opportunity to do so has not yet been seized.

The Commission considers that there is a very small percentage share difference in the positions of the Parties, which it should be possible to overcome. It is regrettable that Parties were unable to show sufficient flexibility at this stage to allow for the finalisation of these negotiations today.

On this occasion, Commissioner Damanaki said: “This is a multi-billion euro industry and we need to take the right decisions now to have a sustainable stock to fish for the future. A difference of 0.8% of share remains to be found. The Union has been the most flexible Party in these negotiations and has done its utmost to broker a balanced and fair deal, but entrenched positions are blocking a solution. I urge all Coastal States to reflect in the coming days in order to make a final push to resolve this dispute.”

The Coastal States are scheduled to meet again in London next week to discuss arrangements for blue whiting and atlanto-scandian herring.

Official visit of the Italian government to the European Commission

29/01/2014

The Italian government, conducted by Prime Minister Enrico Letta, paid an official visit to the European Commission and joined the the College of Commissioners on January the 29th. Commissioner Damanaki had the opportunity to meet with the Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Emma Bonino in the course of this official visit.

Commissioner Damanaki welcomes EMFF agreement

28/01/2014

The European Commission has today welcomed the political agreement reached between the European Parliament and the Council on the 2014-2020 European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). The agreement is a crucial step towards the EMFF coming into force later this year to support the implementation of the reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
 
Commissioner Maria Damanaki welcomed the agreement: "I am very happy about this outcome, because we can now go full steam ahead and implement the radical changes we have agreed last year to finally put European Fisheries on a sustainable footing once and for all. I now look forward to the finalisation of the adoption process by the European Parliament and the Council so that we can start funding projects on the ground as soon as possible".
 
The agreement between the institutions brings a fresh start: the scrapping of vessels with public money will be phased out, there will be strict conditions for engine replacement and temporary cessation as well as limiting how much money can be used for these measures.

The EMFF will support the rebuilding of fish stocks, reducing the impact of fisheries on the marine environment and the progressive elimination of wasteful discarding practices. It will fund the improvement of fisheries data collection to allow decisions to be based on robust evidence, and fisheries control programmes to ensure that the rules on responsible and sustainable fishing are respected and complied with.
 
The EMFF will also support measures in favour of small-scale fisheries, young fishermen and local fisheries. It will boost innovation, help communities to diversify their economies, finance projects that create new jobs and improve quality of life along European coasts and to provide consumers with all the information they need. The fund will also support European Aquaculture so that it can fully develop its potential.
 
For the first time, the fund will also boost Integrated Maritime Policy. Many measures can be funded for example creating a high resolution map of the European seabed and making marine data available to firms and researchers all over Europe.

Commissioner Damanaki discussed sustainability of the oceans with Pascal Lamy

28/01/2014

Commissioner Damanaki met on January 28th with Mr Pascal Lamy, former Commissioner for Trade and former Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Mr Lamy is also a member of the Global Ocean Commission (GOC), a high level panel established in 2013 focusing on ocean governance in order to restore healthy oceans and sustainable productivity. This meeting between Commissioner Damanaki and Mr Lamy was a good opportunity to exchange views on ocean affairs and fisheries.

Launch event of "Inseparable" campaign in Hamburg

27/01/2014

On Monday 27th January, Commissioner Damanaki is visiting Hamburg to launch the European Commission's "Inseparable" campaign. The campaign is promoting sustainable fishing across Europe and will celebrate it during an event in Hamburg's International Maritime Museum, co-hosted by the city's mayor, M. Olaf Scholz. The event builds on the momentum of the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy which came into force early January 2014.

Speakers at the event include Ms Ulrike Rodust, who led the European Parliament's negotiations during the CFP reform discussions, and Ms Maria Flachsbarth, Parliamentary Secretary of State, Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture of Germany. Representatives from industry, non-governmental organisations, consumer groups, academics, chefs and other key stakeholders will also participate.

Visit the dedicated website for more information and through social media including Twitter via @inseparableeu and Facebook.

Coastal State consultations on mackerel in the North-East Atlantic in London

24/01/2014

Coastal State consultations on mackerel management in the North-East Atlantic were held in London on 22 to 24 January 2014. The Parties (European Union, Faroe Islands, Iceland and Norway) have agreed to continue their discussions in Bergen, Norway next week on 28 January.

Commissioner Maria Damanaki said : “During the last few months, I have continued to hold intensive discussions with my colleagues in other Coastal States. I encourage all parties to come to next week's resumed discussion with a mandate and determination to agree a sustainable and fair deal. The long-term sustainability of this very important mackerel stock has always been and remains my prime concern.”

Exchange of views with the Members of the Fisheries Committee

23/01/2014

Commissioner Damanaki will participate on Thursday January 23d to an exchange of views with the Members of the Fisheries Committee of the European Parliament. Discussions will be held on the fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing.

Moroccan Council of Ministers' approval over new protocol to EU FPA

21/01/2014

The new Protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) with Morocco signed on 18 November 2013 and to which the European Parliament gave its consent on 11 December 2013 was approved by the Moroccan Council of Ministers yesterday. It is now being submitted for adoption by the Moroccan Parliament. This is the last step in the ratification process, following which the Protocol can enter into application. The expected date for its entry in force is the first week of February 2014.

Eat, Buy and Sell Sustainable Fish

16/01/2014

Commissioner Damanaki is launching an EU-wide campaign, INSEPARABLE, to raise awareness on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.

For centuries, we Europeans have been inseparable from the sea and its fish. Fish are an important part of our diets, keeping us healthy. Fishing provides us with jobs. Fish help us prosper. This is why the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, agreed on in 2013, boosts the European fisheries and aquaculture sectors to make them more environmentally, economically and socially sustainable.

INSEPARABLE urges Europeans to eat, buy and sell sustainable fish. Citizens will be given information on how they can make the small changes in their everyday lives to ensure we can keep fishing tomorrow.

Commissioner Damanaki will also host two events in the framework of this awareness campaign, in Hamburg and in Athens. The events will emphasize the need for consumers to diversify their fish choices and the detrimental effects of discards in northern countries while attention will be raised on the problem of consuming juveniles in southern countries.

For more information and testimonies, visit the dedicated website. Watch, share, and "like" the video.  Also follow the awareness campaign on Twitter via @inseparableeu and Facebook.

Commissioner Damanaki together with Chancellor of the Exchequer Osborne in London

15/01/2014

Commissioner Damanaki, together with the British Chancellor of the Exchequer M. Osborne, participated on January 15th in the Pan-European Conference for EU Reform" organised in London. This high-level conference invites participants to discuss opportunities and feasibility of EU reform. Commissioner Damanaki will participate in the afternoon in a panel entitled "EU Reform is possible! Learning lessons from EU fisheries" where she will present the achievements of the CFP reform.

Coastal State consultations on mackerel in the North-East Atlantic in London

14/01/2014

A crucial round of Coastal State consultations on mackerel in the North-East Atlantic will be held in London from 15 to 17 January 2014 to find a solution to the quota sharing dispute. In accordance with the 2010 EU-Norway mackerel agreement, the EU and Norway will share the burden of increased shares for Iceland and the Faroe Islands in the ratio of EU 68.65% / Norway 31.35%.

The Commission considers that all reasonable expectations of the Parties can now be met, so as to allow the four Parties (European Union, Faroe Islands, Iceland and Norway) to reach a fair and balanced agreement on the sharing of the mackerel stock. This follows the intensive high-level political discussions held by the Commission over recent months and weeks with all other interested Parties to pave the way for a positive outcome.

Commissioner Damanaki stated that “The Coastal State meeting that will take place this week in London will be a golden opportunity for all Parties to reach an agreement in light of the prevailing positive scientific advice. Such ideal conditions may not be replicated in the future”.

Meeting with Dr Sullivan, Acting American Under Secretary and NOAA Administrator

13/01/2014

Commissioner Damanaki met on January 12th with Dr Kathryn Sullivan, Acting American Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). During their meeting, Commissioner Damanaki and Dr Sullivan discussed EU-US cooperation as well as issues of mutual interests.

Opening of the Greek Presidency of the EU in Athens

08/01/2014

Commissioner Damanaki welcomed on Wednesday January 8th the whole College of Commissioners in Athens in the framework of the official launching of the Greek Presidency of the EU. The Commissioners participated in a working lunch followed by the first plenary session of the College for 2014 in the afternoon as well as the official opening ceremony of the Greek presidency of the Council of the EU to be followed live here as from 18:00 (Brussels time).

Congratulations on the nomination of Ms Laimdota Straujuma as Latvian PM

07/01/2014

Commissioner Damanaki congratulates her former colleague Latvian Agriculture Minister, Ms Laimdota Straujuma, on her nomination as first woman Prime Minister of Latvia. Commissioner Damanaki and Ms Straujuma constructively cooperated over the last years in the framework of the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.

EU Action Plan to support the development of Blue Energy

20/01/2014

Commissioners Damanaki and Oettinger presented today a new action plan to facilitate the further development of the renewable ocean energy sector in Europe. A central element in this action plan will be to establish an Ocean Energy Forum, bringing together stakeholders to build capacity and foster cooperation. The action plan should help drive forward this nascent 'blue energy' sector towards full industrialisation. Ocean energy covers all technologies to harvest the renewable energy of our seas and oceans other than offshore wind. Its exploitation would contribute to the decarbonisation of the EU's economy and provide secure and reliable renewable energy to Europe.

Following the presentation of the EU Action Plan, Commissioner Damanaki stated: "As our Blue Growth strategy highlights, seas and oceans have the potential to generate huge economic growth and much-needed jobs. By helping the ocean energy sector to fully develop we can fulfil this potential through innovation while also securing clean, renewable energy for Europe."

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