Brussels, 26/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - The new European Commission report on legislative proposals on reform of the Common Agricultural Policy in fishing has stirred up some heated reactions from MEPs (see EUROPE 22-23 April page 10 and 24 April page 11).
The President of the EP Committee on Fishing, Struan Stevenson, (British Conservative), described himself as "very worried" by the delays that could slow up the entire legislative process, "Given that there are some crucial derogations on 6 and 12 mile limits and relative stability (restricted access to UK waters) are due to expire on 31 December this year, any holdover could have serious consequences," explained Mr Stevenson, who is requesting that an emergency procedure for such arrangements. He was shocked by the suspicion that the Commission have been under pressure in delaying the adoption of the proposals, just because of the objections of Spain on the subject of a reduction in public aid for modernisation and restructuring the fleets into decommissioning. Mr Stevenson pointed out that the CAP cost more than EUR billion every year and that 52% of this budget benefited Spain as opposed to 4% for the United Kingdom. "There are too many fishermen in the EU chasing too few fish", he explained, pointing out that the Commission also wanted to reduce the Community fleet by 40% in order to have a sustainable fishing industry. "We cannot have the Spanish fleet expanding while every other fleet is forced to contract.
Christian Democrat, Brigitte Langenhagen said that by announcing these proposals the Commission has been whetting our appetite for months. The reform had been discussed constructively for months, she explained which made the delay even more incomprehensible. She pointed out that she was sure of Franz Fischler's commitment to reform, who she had already met several times.