Denmark denies north-south divide over fishing policy

Date: 11/07/02

By David Cronin

DENMARK'S fisheries minister is downplaying suggestions that EU states are split along a north-south divide over proposals to drastically cut back catches.

The European Commission has proposed that the amount of time trawlers spend at sea should be slashed by as much as 60% and that 8.5% of the Union's fleet should be scrapped in a bid to prevent the collapse of endangered fish stocks.

Money from the EU's structural funds which had been allocated to building new boats or modernising old ones should instead be used for measures such as helping fishermen find other jobs, it added.

The recommendations have met strong resistance from several countries heavily dependent on fisheries, especially Spain and Portugal. The Iberian states have formed an alliance known as the Friends of Fishing with France, Italy and Ireland. Together these countries could form a blocking minority to derail the proposals in the Council of Ministers.

But Mariann Fischer Boel, the Danish minister now chairing the EU fisheries council, yesterday (10 July) dismissed comments that the proposal has polarised member states, broadly along a north-south divide. 'I wouldn't call it a myth but it is a rather simplistic view of the situation,' she told MEPs.

She also rejected claims that the Danes' EU presidency would be throwing its weight behind fisheries chief Franz Fischler's plans. 'It's unfortunate if I have given you the impression I thought the Commission proposal is something I espouse, that it is the only right way to go about things,' she explained. 'It would be very difficult to establish a compromise if I had beforehand shown my cards, my view of the proposal.'

But she indicated her support for a reduction in the amount of fisheries undertaken in Europe. Many types of fish have been depleted 'beyond safe biological limits', she added.

Fischer Boel said she did not feel the decision by EU leaders at the Seville summit to merge the fisheries and agriculture councils would have any bearing on the reform. However, Scottish Nationalist deputy Ian Hudghton said he feared that fisheries would now 'play second fiddle' to farm policy.

Meanwhile, a paper considered by the Parliament's fisheries committee this week contended that Fischler's plans ignore the economic difficulties faced by coastal communities. According to the opinion, these had failed to take account of a call endorsed by MEPs in January that there should be no large-scale reduction of 'structural aid' to the fisheries industry and the EU should continue funding fleet modernisation. 'The Commission is ignoring the socio-economic situation in the industry,' said Portugese left-wing deputy Ilda Figueiredo, who drafted the opinion.

The MEP says it is not yet clear how much putting Fischler's plan into effect would cost, but notes that €272 million is due to be allocated to emergency scrapping measures in 2003-2006.

A Commission official rejected the claims that it is turning a blind eye to the effect of the reforms.

A series of meetings between the EU executive and representatives member governments will take place in the autumn on how these socio-economic issues can be addressed, the official added.

Denmark's fisheries minister is downplaying suggestions that EU states are split along a north-south divide over proposals to drastically cut back catches.