Isabel García Tejerina defends the competency of the Council to fix TACs and quotas in the multiannual fisheries plans

Isabel García Tejerina made these statements at the entrance to the Council of EU Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers, which was due to study the Multiannual Plan for the Baltic Sea, which, although not of direct interest to the Spanish fishing fleet, "will set a precedent for future plans for waters where Spanish vessels will indeed have interests", she stated.

On this issue, the minister explained that the Council defends competence issues, in other words that specific articles within the Plan fall under the competency of the Council and do not require the co-decision procedure of European Parliament.

In this respect, the minister recalled that a ruling is pending from the Court of Justice of the European Union on this issue, "and that we consider it prudent to wait for this ruling before being able to move forward on these issues".

However, Isabel García Tejerina confirmed that Spain has no intention of vetoing the plan, now that there is an intermediate solution, in other words, presenting the contents of the plan to the European Parliament, and setting to one side the issues related to competency until the Court of Justice makes its ruling.

Along this line of debate, the minister recalled that "this Government has set a very clear example of how to prepare a sustainable fisheries policy, as in this way the interests of Spanish fishermen are defended in the short, medium and long term".

In fact, the minister pointed to the widespread recognition of the change in the Spanish fisheries policy, which is based on knowledge and respect for scientific reports, as a basis for obtaining the maximum possible catches while maintaining sustainable fish stocks. Isabel García Tejerina also referred to the recognition of Spain in the fight against illegal fishing.

United Nations Forum on Forests

On another note, Isabel García Tejerina highlighted that the Council is due to reach certain conclusions on the position to be advocated by the European Union at the United Nations Forum on Forests to be held in May. According to the minister, the European Union's position will include avoiding the global disappearance of forests, boosting the economic, social and environmental values of these spaces, and increasing the surface area of forests managed in a sustainable manner. The minister confirmed that Spain is in agreement with the conclusions to be presented.

Similarly, Isabel García Tejerina mentioned that Italy will present its Expo Milan 2015 project to the Council, "a very important event for Spain, which we must take advantage of as it provides a shop window for making the world aware of the Spanish agri-food sector".

To end, the minister mentioned that the Council is awaiting a report from the Commission on the labelling of certain animal products.