Brussels, 10/06/2003 (Agence Europe) - In addition to the debates on CAP reform and the political agreement announced on the new foot and mouth directive (see EUROPE of 7 June 2003, p.14, on the Council agenda), Ministers for Agriculture and Fisheries of the EU Member States will seek, on Thursday in Luxembourg, to reach a qualified majority agreement on a proposal to settle the problem that causes opposition between Spain and Ireland, that of keeping or eliminating the rules of the Irish Box. On the sidelines of a speech before members of the EP Committee on Fisheries, Commissioner Franz Fischler explained to a few journalists that it was very important for the Council to reach a decision on the Greek Presidency's proposal of compromise (drafted in agreement with the Commission), including, in the worst case of all, without the consent of the Member States most concerned (Spain and Ireland). Mr Fischler made it clear that the Committee of Permanent Representatives of Member States with the EU (Coreper) was to examine the latest Greek Presidency compromise on Wednesday (the first casting of which was presented at the last Council (see EUROPE of 27 May 2003, p.7), which provides for the three following elements:
(1) The creation of a fishing effort system divided into different sub-areas depending on kilowatt/hours consumed so that fishing effort is not transferred from one zone to another, Mr Fischler explained.
(2) The current zone covered by the Irish Box would be reduced to a "biologically sensitive area" located to the south-west of Ireland, representing roughly one quarter of the existing Irish Box. In this sensitive area, specific limits to fishing capacity would be set to protect juvenile hake. Spain considers the creation of such an area is not scientifically justified, whereas Ireland would rather favour the reinstatement of the former Irish Box.
(3) The possibility mainly open to Spanish fishing fleets to be able to fish more tuna in the waters around the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands, by reducing the special protection area for demersal species in the outermost areas from 200 to 50 miles. Portugal expresses major concern about this decision.
We would specify that, according to the latest Presidency compromise, all pelagic species (and not just a few of them as in the earlier compromise) would be excluded from the scope of the regulation.