The external dimension of the common fisheries policy (CFP) has been set out in a communication from the EC, published in July 2011 as part of the package of proposals for the reform. This was discussed at the November 2011 meeting of the Council of European Fisheries Ministers.

The Council’s press release highlighted that ‘Most of the delegations noted the importance of the external dimension of the CFP for contributing to fisheries product supply and for ensuring that the EU's sustainability policy is pursued internally and externally. Furthermore, they also stressed the key role which should be played by regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs) and bilateral agreements, in particular in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated [IUU] fishing.

‘Transparency with regard to the exploitation levels in the waters under the jurisdiction of the coastal states and with regard to the evaluation of bilateral agreements, including scientific stock assessment, was mentioned as an important issue.’

Concerning the EC proposal to introduce a fee for European boat-owners to access the high seas, ‘member states were rather cautious if it was to be conceived as a unilateral measure, as this could reduce the EU fleet’s competiveness and consequently the EU's international presence’.

On the EC proposal to gradually increase fees for access to third countries’ EEZs under bilateral agreements, ‘member states were split, judging differently on the economic viability of further cost increases. By contrast, there was general support for decoupling the sectoral support to coastal states under the bilateral agreements from access fees. In conjunction with this decoupling, most member states asked for conditionality to become more firm and results-oriented with regard to locally and regionally sustainable fisheries, and some member states asked for greater coherence with the development policy at large’.