Dear President, Ministers,
I have listened carefully and taken very good note of your remarks.
As I mentioned during the December Council, the Commission is initiating a reflection process, in view of enhancing the functioning of the multiannual plans. In this context, I have instructed my services to start immediately the procedures for the revision of the Western Mediterranean MAP.
As regards the scientific advice, indeed the work of our scientists should be praised, and it must remain the basis of decision-making. This is one of the core principles of our common fisheries policy.
On the hake benchmark, let me stress that the conclusion of this scientific process should ensure a high-quality product, relevant for STECF stock assessment. Experience with this process is relevant for any scientific reviews of other stock assessments, where justified and where resources allow.
The Commission remains committed to work with the Member States on rebuilding trajectories for our stocks and for the fishers. These are crucial for sustainable fisheries and there is no alternative to ensure the profitability, resilience and attractiveness of our sector and local communities.
In relation to the request to have multiannual decisions for setting fishing opportunities, this approach would require stable stocks with low scientific uncertainty, to be able to set effort reduction for 2 or 3 years. In an effort regime it is very challenging to establish multiannual effort days. Actually, such multiannual decisions risk to further increase scientific uncertainty, but also the uncertainly on the status of the stocks.
Before closing, let me briefly come back to the fishing opportunities in the Mediterranean, as set by the Council for 2026.
As stated during the final plenary in December, the Commission did not support the political agreement reached. The Commission considered that this agreement was not in line with the relevant provisions of the Western Mediterranean MAP.
The Commission will conduct a thorough analysis of the Regulation as adopted, including on the compensation mechanism, to see how it can be implemented by the Member States.