Commenting on the Council outcomes, Roberto Ferrigno, Common Fisheries Policy project coordinator at WWF’s European Policy Office said: “Today Fisheries Ministers agreed to keep an unambitious position on the future of the Common Fisheries Policy.  Strong demand to end overfishing and achieve fish stock recovery made by the European Parliament only few weeks ago has fallen on deaf ears, with much work still needing to be achieved during the trialogue negotiations”.

 

Following this council, the Irish presidency will receive a mandate to commence the trialogue negotiations together with the European Parliament and Commission.

 

The basic regulation, however, is only one of three files in the fisheries reform. Already next week trialogues will start on the Common Market Organisation. The third file, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, has not yet been voted by the Parliament.