Fishing deal: EU ministers criticised

The Agriculture and Fisheries Council held in Luxembourg on the 22-23 October 2012 reached an agreement on a partial general approach on the proposal for a regulation on
the European maritime and fisheries fund (EMFF) replacing the existing European fisheries fund.

The deal was hailed by the UK environment ministry Defra but criticised by the EU fisheries commissioner and environmentalists. A Commission source told BBC News the new funding arrangements would continue to promote overfishing.

Greenpeace condemned EU ministers for selling out to the short-term economic interests of the industrial fishing industry, instead of putting Europe’s fisheries onto a path of recovery. Many parts of the EU fishing fleet are already able to catch two to three times more than is sustainable, but the ministers meeting in Luxembourg have signalled that they want to continue funnelling subsidies into the modernisation of vessels and their engines.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: EU fisheries reform losing momentum http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-fisheries-reform-losing-momentum/

European Commission: DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries: Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/reform/index_en.htm

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/agricult/133133.pdf http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/agricult/133133.pdf

Greenpeace: Press Release, 23.10.12: European ministers want to continue bankrolling overfishing http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/en/News/2012/European-ministers-want-to-continue-bankrolling-overfishing/

UK: DEFRA: Press Release, 23.10.12: UK secures major step towards reform of the Common Fisheries Policy http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2012/10/24/uk-secures-cfp-reform/

European Commission: The Commissioners (2010-2014): Maria Damanaki: Press Release, 23.10.12: EU Council agrees on a partial general approach for the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund 2014-2020 http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/damanaki/headlines/press-releases/2012/10/201219_en.htm

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