Brussels, 10/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - The Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is expected to decide, during its session to open on 20 January, on the need to create a panel to look at the dispute between the Faroe Islands and the European Union over Atlanto-Scandian herring fishing. The Danish delegation, acting on behalf of the Faroe Islands, presented the official request for this on 8 January.
Acting on behalf of the Faroe Islands, Denmark brought the case before the WTO on 4 November 2013 to challenge the trade sanctions imposed by the European Union in 2013 in the context of the dispute over herring fishing quotas between the two parties (see EUROPE 10957). Under the terms of the sanctions, import into the EU of Faroese herring or mackerel from the Atlanto-Scandian stock, or fishing products derived from these fish or containing them is prohibited. Restrictions are also laid down regarding the use of EU ports by Faroe Island vessels, except in the case of emergency.
The EU accuses the Faroe Islands of compromising the sustainability of herring reserves in the North Atlantic. Arguing that herring stocks have increased in their zone, the Faroe Islands had announced that they would unilaterally fix, in 2013, a quota that is 145% more than the previous year for herring fishing, making their share of the catch 105,230 tonnes. In their request for consultation put to the WTO, the Faroe Islands underlined that the EU hoped to reduce the total allowable catch (TAC) of the Faroe Islands to 31,000 tonnes.
The prime minister of the Faroe Islands, Kaj Leo Holm Johannesen, said in a statement: “Faroe Islands is heavily dependent on trade facilities, especially in relation to its exports of fish products which constitute more than 95% of its total exports. This step (at the WTO) is therefore of major importance for the Faroe Islands, and a crucial step in order to ensure that the EU coercive economic measure, whose purpose is exclusively to safeguard the interests of its domestic industry, will be withdrawn and revoked”.
Talks resume on mackerel.
Talks between littoral countries (EU, Norway, Iceland, Faroe Islands) on the management of mackerel stocks in the North-East Atlantic will resume in London on 15 January. Since 2009, Iceland and the Faroe Islands, which benefit from a strong mackerel stock in their waters, have allotted themselves large fishing quotas, much to the discontent of Norway and the EU. According to the European Commission, Iceland has given itself nearly one quarter (23%) of the scientifically legitimate quota of mackerel stock in the North Atlantic. In February 2013, Iceland reduced its quota by 15%. The EU, however, considered this gesture was “insufficient”, saying that it was an attempt to cover up a quota that was initially far too high. (LC/transl.jl)