Coveney says fisheries deal reached with other members states

Suzanne Lynch, European Correspondent, in Brussels

Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney has said an agreement with other fisheries ministers will allow him to enter final negotiaions with the European Parliament on reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.

The agreement was reached at 6.15am after some 36 hours of talks, a statement by Mr Coveney said, adding that it amounted to a “significant compromise”.

Ireland, as part of its presidency of the EU Council, has been working to secure agreement among member states on an updated agreement.

The European Parliament voted in February for a radical overhaul of the Common Fisheries Policy, with the European Council, which represents member states, finalising their position a few weeks later. Since then, discussions between the European Council, under the leadership of the Irish presidency of the European Union, and MEP's have been continuing. While both institutions have backed an overhaul of the EU fisheries policy, significant differences still remained between the two instituitions on the specifics of the proposal, with countries such as Spain, France and Portugal in particular expressing concern.

One of the most controversial aspects of the reform proposals is the question of discards, the process by which fish are thrown back into the sea when a fishing vessel exceeds its fishing quota. An estimated 25 per cent of the fish caught by EU boats are thrown back into the sea, with the percentage believed to be as high as 70 per cent in some areas.

This morning’s deal will allow the rebuilding of the fish stocks in European waters and significant quota increases for fishermen, according to Mr Coveney.

The Minister will this morning present the new compromise to the leaders of the Fisheries Committee of the European Parliament.

“We are under no illusions as to the challenges facing us with the European Parliament, however the strong compromise mandate given to me today places added responsibility on our co-legislators in the European Parliament to show reciprocal flexibility to facilitate the successful conclusion on the Common Fisheries Policy, which is the objective of both institutions,” Mr Coveney added.