The European Union has agreed a Total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for certain species of fish for 2014.
At a meeting on Agriculture and Fisheries, chaired by Council President Vigilijus JUK A, Minister for Agriculture of Lithuania, the EC said the ministers reached a political agreement on 2014 fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks in the EU and certain non-EU waters, as well as on fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks in the Black Sea.
At the meeting, which took place in Brussels on the 16th and 17th of December, 2013, the Ministers adopted a common agricultural policy (CAP) reform package and transitional CAP measures for 2014 after a first-reading agreement with the European Parliament.
They also presented a proposal for a regulation on promotion measures for agricultural products.
In an official Press release on the EU website, the EC said "We have reached a balanced compromise that allows for a number of stocks to reach maximum sustainable yield in 2015 ensuring the sustainable use of fishery resources and vitality of fisheries”
On Fisheries, the Committee said Council has reached a political agreement on Total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for 2014 concerning fishing opportunities for 2014 for EU vessels in European Union Waters and certain non-Union waters on the basis of a Presidency compromise, drawn up in agreement with the Commission.
It said "this agreement concerns fish stocks which are not subject to international negotiations or agreements and stocks subject to international negotiations or agreements."
However this agreement has yet to be adopted as "The Council will adopt this regulation, after finalisation by the legal/linguistic experts, through a written procedure."
The council also considered the following areas European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF); Emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants over which Germany's request for a cautious approach when setting emission ceilings was popularly supported by everal member states; Public consultation on organic farming which showed that 71% of people polled trust the agricultural method.
The report said that "consumers trust organic products (71 %), that they buy them mainly out of concern about the environment (83%), and because they are free from GMOs and pesticide residues (81%)", while the vast majority (78%) said they were prepared to pay more for organic goods.
There was aso a conference on the dairy sector, Local farming, rice market, "Traffic lights" nutrition labelling system, Package on animal health, plant health and control as well as Market access to Russia.
The UK representative at the meeting included Mr Owen PATERSON, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Mr George EUSTICE, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Natural Environment, Water and Rural Affairs; Mr Richard LOCHHEAD, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment.
The UK representative also included Mr Alun DAVIES, Deputy Minister for Agriculture Food, Fisheries and European Programmes; and Ms Michelle O’NEIL, Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development.
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