Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made in the negotiations on the Common Fisheries Policy to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14663/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is the overarching policy framework which governs the fisheries and wider seafood sectors in the European Union. First put in place in 1983, it has been subject to reviews every 10 years, and is currently undergoing a reform process the important elements of which are expected to conclude during the Irish Presidency.

The CFP is essentially three separate pieces of legislation, a basic policy regulation, a regulation on the Common Organisation of the Market (CMO) both of which are supported and underpinned by a separate financial instrument the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF).

At the EU Council of Fisheries Ministers in June last year the Danish Presidency were successful in obtaining agreement for a general approach on the CMO and a partial general approach on the basic regulation. At that time it was not possible to achieve political agreement on a way forward for some of the more contentious issues in the basic regulation including dealing with the discard issue.

At the October 2012 Fisheries Council the Cypriot Presidency secured agreement on a “partial” general approach on the financial instrument the EMFF. However, the PECHE Committee vote on the EMFF has now been delayed until the end of May 2013, and it is considered unlikely given the timeframe that trilogues can commence during the Irish Presidency.

At February’s EU Fisheries Council, I was successful in brokering a political agreement on the outstanding issues from June 2012 on the Basic Regulation including for the introduction of an EU wide discards ban.

February’s decision in reaching a Common General Approach on all aspects of a reformed basic policy regulation, is important in that it now allows the Irish Presidency, on behalf of the Council, to engage directly with the European Parliament and Commission with a view to reaching overall political agreement on the reformed Common Fisheries Policy during the Irish Presidency.

However, it is worth noting that what was agreed in February is the Councils approach, the European Parliament has also published its’ position which differs in many respects. Some of the differences are minor and it can be expected that political compromise can be achieved relatively easily on these.

However there are significant differences of emphasis expressed by the Parliament on some key issues such as the discards ban, arrangements for regionalisation and achieving Maximum Sustainable Yield. Achieving a political agreement between the Council and Parliament on these issues will be a major challenge.

A first round of trilogues with Parliament (and European Commission) has taken place on the Common organisation of the market and a negotiation mandate is being prepared for a second round.

The trilogues on the Basic Regulation has commenced and there is an intensive programme of meetings arranged for the coming weeks.

The timetable for the Reform is changing on a regular basis. Latest indications are as follows:

- Basic Regulation: A Council General Approach was finalised at February Fisheries Council. The first trilogues with the EU Parliament took place on the 19^th March and a second meeting is being held today with further meetings scheduled. The aim is to have final agreement in June.

- CMO: The European Parliament has a first reading position, Council have agreed a general approach. A first round of trilogues took place on 27^th of February and a mandate for a second round has been prepared. The aim is to have a final agreement in April .

- EMFF: Following an agreed partial general approach at October Council, the EU PECHE Committee vote is scheduled for late May, 2013.