EU ministers reach agreement on Baltic Sea catch limits for 2024

Fisheries

Fishing opportunities for 2024 in the Baltic Sea

Fisheries ministers reached a political agreement on next year’s total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas for the most commercially significant fish stocks in the Baltic Sea. The agreement is in line with the scientific advice provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and with the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), as well as with the provisions of the multiannual plan for Baltic Sea stocks.

The political agreement includes:

• due to low biomass levels, the Council decided to continue to set TACs for by-catches only for Western herring (subdivisions 22-24), for Eastern cod (subdivisions 25-32) and for Western cod (subdivisions 22-24)
• in the case of herring in the Gulf of Bothnia (subdivisions 30-31) and Central herring (subdivisions 25-27, 28.2, 29, 32), to take into account the low biomass levels and allow for the recovery of the stocks, the Council reduced TACs, respectively, by 31% and 43%
• the TAC for salmon in the Gulf of Finland (subdivision 32) was increased by 7%
• in the case of plaice, the fishing opportunities from 2023 were rolled over; while the state of plaice stocks has considerably improved, cod is an unavoidable by-catch in plaice fisheries, so plaice TACs take this into account
• the TACs for Riga herring, main basin salmon and sprat were reduced, respectively, by 17%, 15% and 10%, given the unhealthy situation of the stocks

ICCAT 2023

Ministers exchanged views with the aim of providing the Commission with guidance on the position to be taken by the EU at this year’s annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), which will be held on 13-20 November 2023.

The agenda of this year’s annual meeting includes a wide range of issues including tropical tuna species, blue shark, bluefin tuna, and control and enforcement measures.

Within the Council, work will continue at technical level with the aim of agreeing on the EU’s position ahead of the meeting.

Fishing for 2024 in the Mediterranean and Black Seas

Agriculture

Market situation, in particular following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

EU agriculture ministers discussed the situation of agricultural markets and commodities and took note of information provided by the Commission on the short-term outlook for agricultural markets.

The Council furthermore took note of information provided by member states on the market situation, also considering the current geopolitical context, and of their views on future challenges to be anticipated in the short and medium term.

The consequences of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, adverse weather conditions in certain regions, high energy prices and a global decrease in purchasing power continue to represent challenges to agricultural markets. Ministers also noted that other factors, including the spread of animal diseases and food price inflation, continue to put pressure on this sector.

Ministers moreover exchanged views on ways of enhancing the flexibility of the CAP strategic plans, to ensure they can respond effectively to future challenges. During the discussions, ministers pointed out that it is necessary to explore new mechanisms and instruments to address potential large scale future crises, in the current geopolitical context and in view of the adverse effects of climate change.

The presidency highlighted the role that agriculture has in ensuring food security, and stressed that this strategic sector must have the appropriate instruments at its disposal in order to ensure that it can adapt to extraordinary circumstances.

The Ukrainian Minister for Agrarian Policy and Food, Mykola Solskyi, also joined the meeting to provide EU member states with an overview of recent developments in Ukraine’s agricultural sector. Mr Solskyi provided information on exports of Ukrainian agricultural products to the EU, and on how the EU could further support his country, not only by facilitating the export of Ukrainian products to the EU and to world markets, but also on the ground, in Ukraine.

The presidency agreed with the Commission on the importance of enhancing solidarity lanes, and of finding alternative routes with lower logistical costs.

Waste framework directive – food-related aspects

Ministers publicly discussed the food-related aspects of the proposal amending the waste framework directive, presented by the Commission on 5 July 2023.

This point was included by the Spanish presidency due to its importance for the agrifood sector and in view of the sustainable development goal 12.3 of halving global food waste by 2030, as well as of reducing food losses in the production and supply chains. The Environment configuration of the Council has overall responsibility for examining the proposal. Given its relevance to the agrifood sector and food chains, during today’s meeting, agriculture ministers discussed the food-related aspects of the proposal, also in the light of its potential to contribute to food security.

The Council welcomed the proposal and its intended goals and reaffirmed its commitment to reducing food waste, seen as one of the biggest sources of inefficiency in the food chain. During their exchange of views, ministers discussed the tools that are best suited to help achieve the proposal’s goals of reducing and preventing food waste.

Other business

Under “Other business”, the Council received information from the Czech delegation on the outcome of the Visegrád group meeting of the ministers responsible for agriculture, which focused on the current situation of agricultural markets and on forestry-related policies at the EU level.

Additionally, the Council received information from the Croatian and Slovenian delegations on crisis management and financial support mechanisms, while the Lithuanian delegation informed ministers about support and prospects for organic farming. The Italian delegation also provided information on the Commission’s draft work programme for 2024 on the EU’s promotion policy for agri-food products.

During a public session, the presidency provided the Council with updated information regarding the agricultural and forestry aspects of the proposal on the certification of carbon removals.

Also in public session, the Polish delegation informed ministers on the impact of the EU’s emissions trading system on the agricultural sector. Additionally, the Austrian delegation informed the Council on the challenges facing the farming sector, including the current geopolitical context and Russia’s war of aggression and the need to strike a balance between achieving our environmental goals and ensuring food security.

More information: Council of the European Union