“The presidency intends to prepare a compromised text on the decision of the council, in order to reflect the views of the ministers, as well as the drafting suggestions previously presented by the delegations and which will be presented in Coreper on 3 March, with a quick adoption by written procedure”, announced the Minister of the Sea, Ricardo Serrão Santos.

The minister, who was speaking at a press conference after a meeting of the informal Council of Fisheries Ministers of the European Union (EU) by videoconference, also said that “the negotiations must be conducted in close collaboration with the Member States, at all levels”.

Serrão Santos also specified that the negotiations with the United Kingdom on the fixing of total allowable catches of stocks under common management for 2021 and, with regard to deep-sea species, 2021 and 2022, “must be concluded as soon as possible, in line with scientific advice, but also taking into account the needs of the sector”.

The EU and the United Kingdom manage around 100 fish stocks and the deal closed in December expires on 30 March making it necessary to reach a deal on what each country can fish this year.