1. RACS coordination meeting 29 May 2008 Brussels

2. Review of the functioning of the RACs

3. Council Decision N° 2004/585/EC Article 11: Article 11: "three years following the date on which the last RAC becomes operational, or, at the latest by 30 June 2007, the Commission shall report to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of this Decision and the functioning of the RACs"

4. Reasons for having postponed the review The process of setting up the RACs took more than three years and is not yet completed; The process of setting up the RACs took more than three years and is not yet completed; By 30 June 2007, only six of the seven RACs had been established (LDRAC and SWWRAC in Spring 2007); By 30 June 2007, only six of the seven RACs had been established (LDRAC and SWWRAC in Spring 2007); The evaluation report would have covered only four RACs if it had been published in June 2007. The evaluation report would have covered only four RACs if it had been published in June 2007.

5. It was then decided: It was then decided: – to amend RACs financial regime to guarantee financial stability (cf Decision N° 2007/409/EC of 11 June 2007); – to delay the review by one year.

6. Objectives: 1) Evaluate RACs functioning but not CFP governance (Council regulation 2371/2002). This will be done in the context of the next CFP reform. 1) Evaluate RACs functioning but not CFP governance (Council regulation 2371/2002). This will be done in the context of the next CFP reform. 2) Make an overall evaluation of RACs and not an individual scrutiny. 2) Make an overall evaluation of RACs and not an individual scrutiny.

7. Structure of the report 1st part – Evaluation of the main elements of the general framework established by Council decision 2004/585/EC; 1st part – Evaluation of the main elements of the general framework established by Council decision 2004/585/EC; 2 nd Part – Input of RACs to the CFP decision-making process 2 nd Part – Input of RACs to the CFP decision-making process

8. Main conclusions (1) The current legal framework is generally satisfactory, having enabled the creation of the RACs and guided their functioning. The current legal framework is generally satisfactory, having enabled the creation of the RACs and guided their functioning. Some improvements / clarifications could be contemplated in the medium term, after discussion with all interested parties. Some improvements / clarifications could be contemplated in the medium term, after discussion with all interested parties.

9. Main conclusions (2) RACs contributed to an improved dialogue with and between stakeholders RACs contributed to an improved dialogue with and between stakeholders RACs have helped soften hostility towards CFP RACs have helped soften hostility towards CFP The amount of advice, quality and timeliness have increased over time even if the Commission sometimes does not follow RACs advice. The amount of advice, quality and timeliness have increased over time even if the Commission sometimes does not follow RACs advice. Consultation process could be further improved. Consultation process could be further improved.

10. A number of actions could be implemented by the EC in the short term without need for new legal rules e.g.: A number of actions could be implemented by the EC in the short term without need for new legal rules e.g.: –Propose internal guidelines on procedural rules for the RACs- based on best practices; –Prepare guidelines on financial management of Community co-financing –Improve the consultation process (timing, documents, access to information and scientific data etc) –Propose benchmarks to improve the consistency of RAC advice with CFP objectives –Organise annual debriefing with individual RACs –Improve RAC visibility through the Commission’s website –Etc… Main conclusions (3)

11. Next steps The report on RACs functioning should be adopted by the Commission in early June. It will be communicated to the Council and the European Parliament as well as to the EESC and CoR. The report will be sent to the RACs for discussion and comments. We propose to discuss it further in our next coordination meeting in October.

12. Questions relating to the functioning of RACs

13. Participation of observers Article 6 of Decision 585/2004 Participation by non-members Representatives 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

14. Sandeel and norway Pout Article 8 of decision 585/2004 Coordination between Regional Advisory Councils If 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.

15. Natura 2000

16. Relations with ICES / STECF

17. Participation of ICES in RACs meetings (1) The MoU states that "ICES will at the request of the EC present and explain the advice and its background to the RACs. Further, ICES will participate in dialogue with the RACs. The EC will support such participation. An annual plan for such meetings including number of meetings and a budget will be agreed in January.“ The MoU states that "ICES will at the request of the EC present and explain the advice and its background to the RACs. Further, ICES will participate in dialogue with the RACs. The EC will support such participation. An annual plan for such meetings including number of meetings and a budget will be agreed in January.“ Until now, RACs and ICES haven’t made use of this disposal Until now, RACs and ICES haven’t made use of this disposal

18. Participation of ICES in RACs meetings (2) The Commission proposes to reimburse travel expenditures for a maximum of 25 meetings per year, on the basis of one person per meeting. The Commission proposes to reimburse travel expenditures for a maximum of 25 meetings per year, on the basis of one person per meeting. Procedure: Procedure: –In Autumn, RACs shall express their needs for the following year. It has to be sent to ICES and the Commission. –In December, taking into account its priorities and workload, ICES shall propose a work program and send it to the Commission for approval. The plan shall be balanced across all RACs and be relevant.

19. Participation of ICES to RACs meetings (3) This procedure could apply for 2009 meetings. This procedure could apply for 2009 meetings. In June, the Commission will meet ICES and discuss if a similar procedure could apply for the end of this year (from September). In June, the Commission will meet ICES and discuss if a similar procedure could apply for the end of this year (from September). RACs are invited to send us their provisional needs for September-December 2008. RACs are invited to send us their provisional needs for September-December 2008.

20. Request for advice (1) It was agreed that the RACs can address requests for advice from ICES and STECF to the Commission. It was agreed that the RACs can address requests for advice from ICES and STECF to the Commission. The Commission may repackage RACs' request in relation to the annual cycle and its own needs. The Commission may repackage RACs' request in relation to the annual cycle and its own needs. Requests shall be sent to the desk officer for RACs. If possible, the request should propose terms of reference. Requests shall be sent to the desk officer for RACs. If possible, the request should propose terms of reference.

21. Status of observer (1) The calendar of all meetings is available on ICES and STECF websites. The calendar of all meetings is available on ICES and STECF websites. http://www.ices.dk http://fishnet.jrc.it/web/stecf RACs have been granted official observer status at ICES meetings (cf letter sent by ICES). RACs have been granted official observer status at ICES meetings (cf letter sent by ICES). RACs are invited to contact STECF / ICES secretariats or chairmen if they are interested in attending a meeting. RACs are invited to contact STECF / ICES secretariats or chairmen if they are interested in attending a meeting. ICES: Mette Bertelsen, mette@ices.dk mette@ices.dk STECF: stecf-secretariat@jrc.it stecf-secretariat@jrc.it

22. Data collection and dissemination

23. Council Regulation N°199/2008 of 25 February 2008 concerning the establishment of a Community framework for data collection, management and use of data in fisheries sector and support for scientific advice regarding the CFP Main objectives behind the review of the Data Collection Framework Main objectives behind the review of the Data Collection Framework –Support new approaches to fisheries management (fleet- and area- based management, rather than fish stock- based) –Promote implementation of a more regional dimension to fisheries management –Support for moving towards the ecosystem approach to fisheries management –Improve access and use of data –Increase quality and validation of the data used in the fisheries management –Promote simplification of the current Data Collection Framework

24. 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.

25. 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.

26. Next steps The Management Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture is now examining implementing regulations. As soon as they will be adopted, they will be sent to the RACs The Management Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture is now examining implementing regulations. As soon as they will be adopted, they will be sent to the RACs The new system will enter into force in 2009 (MSs shall send their programmes before 30 September 2008). The new system will enter into force in 2009 (MSs shall send their programmes before 30 September 2008). A more detailed presentation of the new data collection framework could be organised in our next coordination meeting or in a inter-RAC meeting, in Autumn. A more detailed presentation of the new data collection framework could be organised in our next coordination meeting or in a inter-RAC meeting, in Autumn.