Commission to engage with AC on revised Fisheries Control Regulation

The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries has confirmed its readiness to participate in workshops organised by several Advisory Councils (ACs) to discuss the revised Fisheries Control Regulation. In a letter addressed to the Chairmen of the North-Western Waters Advisory Council (NWWAC), the Pelagia Advisory Council (PelAC) and other regional councils, Jérôme Broche, Head of Unit, expressed his appreciation for the initiative and outlined the Commission’s commitment to engage in a detailed exchange of views on the Regulation.

The letter, dated June 2024, was in response to an invitation from the Advisory Boards sent on May 24. It acknowledges the importance of the proposed workshop, highlighting the benefits of a joint dialogue on the revised Control Regulation, despite resource constraints.

Key points of the Commission’s response:

1. Collaboration with multiple councils:

The Commission agrees to exchanges involving several Advisory Boards, emphasizing the importance of transparency and equal treatment. Broche encourages the boards to establish contacts with other relevant Advisory Boards to ensure inclusive participation.

2. Preparation for the workshop:

To facilitate productive and effective workshops, the Commission asked the Advisory Boards to provide advance notice of the specific topics and questions they wish to discuss. This will allow the Commission to prepare appropriately and engage relevant colleagues.

3. Availability of consolidated regulation:

In response to a question about a consolidated version of EU Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, Broche explained that such a version would be available once all the changes had entered into force and had been integrated into the original text. He recommended checking the latest version on the EUR-Lex website.