Brussels, 11/09/2002 (Agence Europe) - In Nyborg on Tuesday morning on the fringes of the Agriculture Council in Denmark, Commissioner Franz Fischler told the four EU Mediterranean Member States (Spain, France, Italy and Greece) that he might suggest setting up a protection zone extending beyond 12 miles in the Mediterranean as part of his action plan (expected to be published at the end of the month). The Commission might look to the model of Spain's 49 mile protection zone.
The Commission is reported to be building up to setting up a multinational Mediterranean fishing management system, which some Member States (like Spain) may find particularly useful in that in the long-run it would allow the EU to get some countries outside the Union to apply similar reductions in fishing capacity as the EU's fleet. The plan may well cause problems between neighbours in managing fishing in the eastern Mediterranean. To lift these fears, it is emphasised that this would not lead to the setting up of an exclusive economic zone and would not affect the sovereignty of the EU's neighbours in their own waters.
Fischler also said that the Commission might decide to propose new TACs for over-fished species in the light of scientific advice (due to be extended and made more reliable).