Outcome of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council
Following the Agriculture and Fisheries Council of March 24th, Commissioner Damanaki took part in the Press Conference following the ministerial meeting. Today's Fisheries Council focused on the management of sandeel, on the outcome of the negotiations with Coastal States on mackerel in the North-East Atlantic as well as on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Commissioner Damanaki welcomed the adoption by the Council of Ministers of the Commission's proposal to list Belize, Cambodia and Guinea as non-cooperating third countries in the fight against illegal fishing.
European Fisheries Ministers also reached a political agreement on the adoption of TACs for North Sea sandeel and blue whiting for 2014.
Finally, Commissioner Damanaki has informed the Council of Ministers on the outcome of the negotiations with Coastal States on mackerel in the North-East Atlantic and more specifically on the tripartite agreement reached between the EU, Norway and the Faroe Islands on mackerel as well as on EU-Norway discussions over shared stocks. Commissioner Damanaki welcomed these good agreements which will ensure the sustainability of our shared stocks.
