Fisheries Ministers met informally on the 4 and 5 May in Vigo, Spain, to continue discussions on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. Commissioner Danamaki presented the synthesis report of the results of the CFP reform consultation and the outcome of the stakeholder meeting held on the 2 and 3 May in La Coruna.

The introduction of Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQs) into a reformed CFP was debated and although Spain is a strong supporter of creating a European market in fishing quotas, most Member States clearly oppose such an idea for the CFP. France in particular is vocal its opposition.

Other issues discussed included criteria to define “small scale fishing” , governance and discards.

The debate will continue at the next meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 28 and 29 June in Luxembourg.

Click here for AFP report on Informal Fisheries Council meeting

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