EP negotiator moves to unlock CFP deadlock – Fishupdate.com
EP negotiator moves to unlock CFP deadlock Published: 09 May, 2013
In a move to prevent a looming deadlock, Ulrike Rodust, the European Parliaments negotiator, has sent a letter to fisheries ministers with proposals for compromises on key issues in the fisheries reform.
A crucial meeting will take place on 1314 May, when fisheries ministers will meet to decide on a mandate for the Irish to approach the European Parliament and find compromise.
Council officials have previously expressed dissatisfaction over Ulrike Rodusts public statements which, in their view, have signalled an unwillingness to move away from the position adopted by the Parliament in February.
At the same time, Members of the European Parliament are equally frustrated that many member states refuse to divert from the Councils position. Recently a group of MEPs wrote an open letter to ministers, calling on them to compromise with the Parliament.
In the letter that Ulrike Rodust sent on 7 May, she assures the fisheries ministers that the European Parliament is willing to make sacrifices and move away from its original position in order to achieve a compromise.
The Irish presidency has drawn up a draft mandate which has been discussed at Coreper ahead of the Council meeting.
This draft text is essentially the presidencys proposal for compromises between the institutions. Ulrike Rodust writes: I take note of the draft mandate for Council which, if adopted, constitutes a significant improvement compared to the Councils general approach.
However, Ulrike Rodust goes on to note that some serious concerns remain, and in the letter she draws up the red lines for the European Parliament regarding the most important issues: discard ban, MSY, fishing capacity, fish stock recovery areas and access criteria.
The CFP Reform Watch group has questioned what impact this will have on the Council talks next week.
“According to Council sources there are currently two opposing sides in Council, each of which has enough Council votes to block an agreement,” said the CFP Reform Watch on its website.
“A southern group of member states does not want to move an inch from the general approach, especially when it comes to exceptions from the discard ban. A northern group of member states wants to approach the European Parliament in order to accept a deal.
“Presidency sources said Wednesday that the Council meeting 1314 May threatens to be one of the most difficult Fish Councils in recent years”.”