Originally not planning to deal with fisheries issues, the EU Agriculture and Fisheries ministers have added the conflict with the Faroe Islands and Iceland over mackerel catches to the agenda of their 27 September Council meeting.
In August, after Iceland and the Faeroe Islands have increased their mackerel TACs in the wake of stocks moving in from EU domains due to warming waters, Commissioner Maria Damanaki warned that vessels from these countries may be blocked from access to Union waters.
At the Council meeting, the Commission will brief the ministers on the current situation in the dispute, and discuss further steps.