“Members came to this week with deepened reflections on various ideas on the proposals and texts on the table. It was clear that members have devoted considerable attention to all the elements before them. This effort remains a real indication of the sense of urgency and seriousness with which we are approaching this process,” Ambassador Gunnarsson said at the 14 July meeting of the Negotiating Group on Rules, bringing to a close the fourth Fish Week before the August break.

“Bridge-building and problem solving is the need of the hour. Let's remember that our collective vision of completing work by the Trade Negotiations Committee meeting in December means that the window between mid-September and end- November is the only time that we have to build bridges,” the chair said. “Given our short negotiating window, we need to start text-based discussions as soon as we come back in the fall.”

Deputy Director-General Angela Ellard also remarked on the progress made during the week and drew attention to the short time remaining. She said: “We only have a few months left, and of course in October we also have the senior officials meeting. We want to make the best use of that meeting to create momentum and to resolve outstanding issues so that we can get to the goal of having an agreement by the end of the year. It seems to me that we all share this sense of urgency.”

Ambassador Gunnarsson further reported that members underlined the usefulness of the table he presented at the start of the Fish Week containing a menu of options reflecting all the documents before members. He said he will update the table to reflect elements from the latest proposals and proposals to be submitted in the coming days. He therefore urged members intending to submit proposals to do so as soon as possible.

He also reiterated plans to hold four Fish Weeks in the fall, during the weeks starting 18 September, 9 October, 6 November and 4 December. Members will also meet on 19 July to discuss technical work related to the operation of the future Committee on Fisheries Subsidies.