RACS coordination RACS coordination meetingmeeting

29 May 200829 May 2008

BrusselsBrussels

Review of the functioning Review of the functioning of the RACsof the RACs

Council Decision N° Council Decision N° 2004/585/EC2004/585/EC

• Article 11:Article 11:

""three years following the date on which three years following the date on which the last RAC becomes operational, or, the last RAC becomes operational, or, at the latest by 30 June 2007, the at the latest by 30 June 2007, the Commission shall report to the Commission shall report to the European Parliament and the Council European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of this Decision on the implementation of this Decision and the functioning of the RACsand the functioning of the RACs" "

Reasons for having postponed Reasons for having postponed the reviewthe review

• The process of setting up the RACs took The process of setting up the RACs took more than three years and is not yet more than three years and is not yet completed;completed;

• By 30 June 2007, only six of the seven By 30 June 2007, only six of the seven RACs had been established (LDRAC and RACs had been established (LDRAC and SWWRAC in Spring 2007);SWWRAC in Spring 2007);

• The evaluation report would have covered The evaluation report would have covered only four RACs if it had been published in only four RACs if it had been published in June 2007.June 2007.

• It was then decided:It was then decided:

– to amend RACs financial regime to to amend RACs financial regime to guarantee financial stability (cf Decision guarantee financial stability (cf Decision N° 2007/409/EC of 11 June 2007);N° 2007/409/EC of 11 June 2007);

– to delay the review by one year.to delay the review by one year.

Objectives:Objectives:

• 1) Evaluate RACs functioning but not 1) Evaluate RACs functioning but not CFP governance (Council regulation CFP governance (Council regulation 2371/2002). This will be done in the 2371/2002). This will be done in the context of the next CFP reform.context of the next CFP reform.

• 2) Make an overall evaluation of 2) Make an overall evaluation of RACs and not an individual scrutiny.RACs and not an individual scrutiny.

Structure of the reportStructure of the report

• 1st part – Evaluation of the main 1st part – Evaluation of the main elements of the general framework elements of the general framework established by Council decision established by Council decision 2004/585/EC;2004/585/EC;

• 22ndnd Part – Input of RACs to the CFP Part – Input of RACs to the CFP decision-making processdecision-making process

Main conclusions (1)Main conclusions (1)

• The current legal framework is The current legal framework is generally satisfactory, having generally satisfactory, having enabled the creation of the RACs and enabled the creation of the RACs and guided their functioning. guided their functioning.

• Some improvements / clarifications Some improvements / clarifications could be contemplated in the could be contemplated in the medium term, after discussion with medium term, after discussion with all interested parties.all interested parties.

Main conclusions (2)Main conclusions (2)

• RACs contributed to an improved dialogue RACs contributed to an improved dialogue with and between stakeholderswith and between stakeholders

• RACs have helped soften hostility towards RACs have helped soften hostility towards CFPCFP

• The amount of advice, quality and The amount of advice, quality and timeliness have increased over time even if timeliness have increased over time even if the Commission sometimes does not follow the Commission sometimes does not follow RACs advice. RACs advice.

• Consultation process could be further Consultation process could be further improved.improved.

• A number of actions could be implemented by the EC A number of actions could be implemented by the EC in the short term without need for new legal rules e.g.:in the short term without need for new legal rules e.g.:– Propose internal guidelines on procedural rules for Propose internal guidelines on procedural rules for

the RACs- based on best practices;the RACs- based on best practices;– Prepare guidelines on financial management of Prepare guidelines on financial management of

Community co-financing Community co-financing – Improve the consultation process (timing, Improve the consultation process (timing,

documents, access to information and scientific documents, access to information and scientific data etc)data etc)

– Propose benchmarks to improve the consistency of Propose benchmarks to improve the consistency of RAC advice with CFP objectivesRAC advice with CFP objectives

– Organise annual debriefing with individual RACsOrganise annual debriefing with individual RACs– Improve RAC visibility through the Commission’s Improve RAC visibility through the Commission’s

websitewebsite– Etc…Etc…

Main conclusions (3)Main conclusions (3)

Next stepsNext steps

The report on RACs functioning should be The report on RACs functioning should be adopted by the Commission in early June.adopted by the Commission in early June.

It will be communicated to the Council and It will be communicated to the Council and the European Parliament as well as to the the European Parliament as well as to the EESC and CoR.EESC and CoR.

The report will be sent to the RACs for The report will be sent to the RACs for discussion and comments. We propose to discussion and comments. We propose to discuss it further in our next coordination discuss it further in our next coordination meeting in October. meeting in October.

Questions relating to the Questions relating to the functioning of RACsfunctioning of RACs

Participation of observersParticipation of observers

• Article 6 of Decision 585/2004Participation by non-membersRepresentatives of the fisheries sector and other

interest groups from third countries, including representatives from Regional Fisheries Organisations, that have a fishing interest in the area or fisheries covered by a Regional Advisory Council may be invited to participate in that Regional Advisory Council as active observers when issues which affect them are discussed

Sandeel and norway PoutSandeel and norway Pout

•Article 8 of decision 585/2004Coordination between Regional

Advisory CouncilsIf an issue is of common interest to two or

more Regional Advisory Councils, they shall coordinate their positions with a view to adopting joint recommendations on that issue.

Natura 2000Natura 2000

Relations with ICES / Relations with ICES / STECFSTECF

Participation of ICES Participation of ICES in RACs meetings (1)in RACs meetings (1)

• The MoU states that "ICES will at the request The MoU states that "ICES will at the request of the EC present and explain the advice of the EC present and explain the advice and its background to the RACs. Further, and its background to the RACs. Further, ICES will participate in dialogue with the ICES will participate in dialogue with the RACs. The EC will support such participation. RACs. The EC will support such participation. An annual plan for such meetings including An annual plan for such meetings including number of meetings and a budget will be number of meetings and a budget will be agreed in January.“agreed in January.“

• Until now, RACs and ICES haven’t made use Until now, RACs and ICES haven’t made use of this disposalof this disposal

Participation of ICES Participation of ICES in RACs meetings (2)in RACs meetings (2)• The Commission proposes to reimburse The Commission proposes to reimburse

travel expenditures for a maximum of 25 travel expenditures for a maximum of 25 meetings per year, on the basis of one meetings per year, on the basis of one person per meeting. person per meeting.

• ProcedureProcedure: : – In Autumn, RACs shall express their needs for In Autumn, RACs shall express their needs for

the following year. It has to be sent to ICES and the following year. It has to be sent to ICES and the Commission.the Commission.

– In December, taking into account its priorities In December, taking into account its priorities and workload, ICES shall propose a work and workload, ICES shall propose a work program and send it to the Commission for program and send it to the Commission for approval. The plan shall be balanced across all approval. The plan shall be balanced across all RACs and be relevant. RACs and be relevant.

Participation of ICES Participation of ICES to RACs meetings (3)to RACs meetings (3)

• This procedure could apply for 2009 This procedure could apply for 2009 meetings.meetings.

• In June, the Commission will meet ICES In June, the Commission will meet ICES and discuss if a similar procedure could and discuss if a similar procedure could apply for the end of this year (from apply for the end of this year (from September). September).

• RACs are invited to send us their RACs are invited to send us their provisional needs for September-provisional needs for September-December 2008.December 2008.

Request for advice (1)Request for advice (1)

• It was agreed that the RACs can address It was agreed that the RACs can address requests for advice from ICES and STECF requests for advice from ICES and STECF to the Commission. to the Commission.

• The Commission may repackage RACs' The Commission may repackage RACs' request in relation to the annual cycle and request in relation to the annual cycle and its own needs. its own needs.

• Requests shall be sent to the desk officer Requests shall be sent to the desk officer for RACs. If possible, the request should for RACs. If possible, the request should propose terms of reference.propose terms of reference.

Status of observer (1)Status of observer (1)

• The calendar of all meetings is available on ICES The calendar of all meetings is available on ICES and STECF websites. and STECF websites.

http://www.ices.dkhttp://www.ices.dkhttp://fishnet.jrc.it/web/stecfhttp://fishnet.jrc.it/web/stecf

• RACs have been granted official observer status RACs have been granted official observer status at ICES meetings (cf letter sent by ICES). at ICES meetings (cf letter sent by ICES).

• RACs are invited to contact STECF / ICES RACs are invited to contact STECF / ICES secretariats or chairmen if they are interested in secretariats or chairmen if they are interested in attending a meeting. attending a meeting.

ICES: Mette Bertelsen, ICES: Mette Bertelsen, mette@ices.dkmette@ices.dk STECF: STECF: stecf-secretariat@jrc.itstecf-secretariat@jrc.it

Data collection and Data collection and disseminationdissemination

Council Regulation N°199/2008 of 25 Council Regulation N°199/2008 of 25 February 2008 February 2008 concerning the establishment of a concerning the establishment of a Community framework for data collection, management and Community framework for data collection, management and use of data in fisheries sector and support for scientific use of data in fisheries sector and support for scientific advice regarding the CFPadvice regarding the CFP

• Main objectives behind the review of the Data Main objectives behind the review of the Data Collection FrameworkCollection Framework– Support new approaches to fisheries management Support new approaches to fisheries management

((fleet- and area- basedfleet- and area- based management, rather than management, rather than fish stock-based)fish stock-based)

– Promote implementation of a more Promote implementation of a more regional regional dimensiondimension to fisheries management to fisheries management

– Support for moving towards the Support for moving towards the ecosystem ecosystem approachapproach to fisheries management to fisheries management

– Improve Improve access and useaccess and use of data of data– Increase Increase quality and validationquality and validation of the data used in of the data used in

the fisheries managementthe fisheries management– Promote Promote simplificationsimplification of the current Data of the current Data

Collection FrameworkCollection Framework

Interest for RACs (1)Interest for RACs (1)

• Article 18 states that:Article 18 states that:Member States shall make detailed and

aggregated data available to end-users to support scientific analysis:

(a) as a basis for advice to fisheries management, including to Regional Advisory Councils;

(b) in the interest of public debate and stakeholder participation in policy development;

(c) for scientific publication.

Interest for RACs (2)Interest for RACs (2)

• Article 20: Article 20: within one month from the receipt of the request for these data

• Article 21: If a Member State refuses to provide data under Article 20(3)(a), the end-user may request the Commission to review the refusal. If the Commission finds that the refusal is not duly justified, it may require the Member State to supply the data to the end-user within one month.

• Regional approach is increased.

Next stepsNext steps

• The Management Committee for Fisheries The Management Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture is now examining and Aquaculture is now examining implementing regulations. As soon as they implementing regulations. As soon as they will be adopted, they will be sent to the will be adopted, they will be sent to the RACsRACs

• The new system will enter into force in The new system will enter into force in 2009 (MSs shall send their programmes 2009 (MSs shall send their programmes before 30 September 2008).before 30 September 2008).

• A more detailed presentation of the new A more detailed presentation of the new data collection framework could be data collection framework could be organised in our next coordination meeting organised in our next coordination meeting or in a inter-RAC meeting, in Autumn.or in a inter-RAC meeting, in Autumn.