The Commission agrees with the Council position, as the compromise political agreement between the European Parliament and the Council maintains all the key elements of the Commission's original proposal. Most importantly, it includes:
(1) a legal obligation subject to deadlines to manage fish stocks sustainably,
(2) a legal obligation subject to deadlines to eliminate discarding of fish,
(3) a system of regionalisation allowing decision making as close as possible to stakeholders.
Other amendments, including on multiannual plans, rules on access to waters, establishment of fish stock recovery areas, allocation of fishing opportunities, management of fishing capacity, data collection, the external dimension, control and enforcement and consultation and composition of advisory councils are acceptable for the Commission as well.
The Commission notes that the Council position incorporates (partially or totally) a large number of the European Parliament’s amendments (over 230 of them).
As regards new provisions introduced by the Council, the Commission accepts the regionalisation model and a broader scope for the redrafted regionalisation model. On the management of fishing capacity, the Commission accepts the compromise aiming to reintroduce a system of transferable fishing concessions on an optional basis.
Lastly, the Commission accepts the agreement reached on empowerment of the Commission, through delegated and implementing Acts under regionalisation. However, concerning specific institutional provisions in the regionalisation model (Article 18) and the limitation of Commission powers under Comitology in relation to Article 22 (implementing rules for the entry-exit regime), the Commission sees the need to make statements to clarify its position.
Similarly the Commission sees a need to make a statement on its position in relation to provisions in Part VI (external policy).