EU Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Maria Damanaki welcomed the agreement, which concludes the work of the inter-institutional Task Force and opens the way to restart work on multiannual plans, which are a core element of the new Common Fisheries Policy.
The agreement allows the Commission to table proposals for multiannual plans which reflect the long-term approach agreed in the reformed Common Fisheries Policy. The Commission will also review pending proposals for multiannual plans in light of the conclusions of the Task Force.
Fisheries should be managed by means of multiannual plans to ensure sustainable resource management, and high and stable catches. These plans build on the objectives of the CFP and set the target and the deadlines to reach them. The new generation of plans will also be a vehicle for regionally-designed measures to achieve the targets of the plan.
