Ministers will also exchange views on a multi-annual plan for demersal stocks in the North Sea. To facilitate the implementation of the landing obligation, these stocks are now subject to temporary measures, but they need a long term approach. One of the challenges posed by the temporary measures is the so-called 'choking' phenomenon: sometimes fishing for a certain species does not make economic sense because the by-catch is high and the allowed fishing quota for that by-catch is low – hence the 'choking' of the fishery. European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella will discuss this issue with Ministers and is ready to work with them to find practical and sound solutions to keep fishing both economically viable and sustainable.

During the Council the Commissioner will take stock of progress by the Member States in fulfilling the requirements to be able to use the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. As some of the action plans that Member States should submit are lagging behind, he will urge Ministers to increase their efforts in order to comply with the legal deadline of December 2016.