Strasbourg, 16/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday in Strasbourg, the European Parliament rejected the Council's urgent request regarding the proposal aimed at setting control measures in place for deep sea species (sharks, seabream, ling, etc.). After having explained the content of the proposal and insisting on the vulnerability of such species whose growth is slow, Struan Stevensen (EPP-ED, UK), Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Fisheries, felt that the EP should take time to examine the issue, mainly as this subject will be discussed by its committee on 22 May.
"I find it very strange that the Council makes this issue a matter of urgency, as it would seem that the Council President-in-Office (Ed.: Mighel Arias Canete, Spanish Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries) has himself been involved in the attempted sabotage of the timetable for publication of the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy", he added. We would point out that Commissioner Franz Fischler will, on 23 May, be attending an in camera meeting of the parliamentary fisheries committee to explain his situation with regard to rumours whereby some Member States put pressure on Commissioners of their own nationality to delay adoption of the proposals.