On Wednesday, 31 August, the Fisheries Committee in the European Parliament will vote on the preliminary allocation of the reports in the CFP reform package.

Just before the European Parliament went on summer vacation, an unusual agreement was struck in the Fisheries Committee. In a deal that went outside the regular procedure, three political groups (EPP, ECR and ALDE) divided the rapporteurship of the six reports in the CFP package between themselves.

This week, as the parliamentary committees resume their work, the deal will be put to the vote and may be upended.

As previously reported, EPP, ECR and ALDE grabbed the six reports at a meeting with the political groups’ coordinators (one MEP from each group). All four groups that were excluded from this deal formally contested the decision. Because of this protest, the decision will have to be approved at the Committee meeting on 31 August.

Since all the members of the committee are voting at this meeting, the result may be different from the meeting when only the coordinators were present.

Further, S&D, GUE and the Greens/EFA have sent a letter to the Conference of Presidents protesting against the deal. This means that if the Fisheries Committee should approve the deal, it may still be scrutinised by the Conference of Presidents.

The meeting of the Fisheries Committee will be live streamed on the website of the committee (Wed 31 August, 9:00 – 12:30).

At the meeting, there will also be an exchange of views regarding the controversial Fisheries Partnership Agreement with Morocco.

Axel Naver

Link:
Agenda and meeting documents

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