Reacting to the agreement, Commissioner Vella said: "The CFP has passed its first real test with the unanimous support of all of the Member States. We have succeeded in increasing the number of stocks that are now managed at sustainable levels and sustainably managed stocks are now a broadly accepted concept". The new CFP establishes that decision-making such as fixing fishing opportunities must be guided, among others things, by scientific advice. Furthermore, the new CFP aims to restore and maintain a maximum sustainable yield (MSY) of the fish stocks and provides for a progressive elimination of discards in all EU fisheries through the introduction of an obligation to land all catches.

Ministers also discussed the state of play of discussions between the European Parliament and Council on the implementation of the landing obligation which comes into force gradually from 1st January 2015.

Full details of the agreement: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/en/agricult/146304.pdf