On 14 November the EU Fisheries Council will meet in Brussels to exchange views on the External dimension as as part of the negotiations of the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. The discussion will focus on three main themes:
1. Priorities for the future development of the CFP’s external dimension, in particular with regard to regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs) and to bilateral agreements;
2. Views on different specific subjects such as:
- Transparency with regard to the exploitation levels in the waters under the jurisdiction of the coastal states and with regard to evaluation of bilateral agreements
including scientific stock assessment;
- Financial contribution by the ship-owners benefitting from access to the High Sea and from access to waters under bilateral agreements;
- Level playing field vis-à-vis third countries, trade measures as an instrument for defending the CFP;
- Conditionality for sectoral support.
3. The opportunity to elaborate or not specific Council conclusions following those on the
Fisheries Partnership Agreements adopted in 2004.
Decisions on fishing possibilities EU stocks in Atlantic waters in 2012 has been postponed to the December meeting.