Brussels, 04/02/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 9 February, the European Commission is to adopt a proposal removing the legal obstacles to sending EU fishing boats to parts of Asia hit by the tsunami. Rather than be broken up, small European boats (12 metres maximum) could thus be given to Asian fishermen free of charge.
To do this, the Commission plans to repeal current rules under the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) which outlawed the transfer of EU boats to third countries at the end of 2004. The Commission plans to offer financial compensation to the EU fishermen, who would then agree to give up boats earmarked for destruction to their Asian counterparts. The Commission intends to take on the costs of sending the boats to Asia itself (most likely in cargos). Furthermore, provisions on controls will be proposed to ensure that these boats do not harm the sustainable nature of small-scale local fishing. The EU may also supply fishing gears. Other measures have been looked at, such as sending experts to the countries in question, or aid to build new boats and set up boatyards. After the agreement in principle given by the Member States at the end of January (EUROPE of 25 January, p.8), the European Commissioner for Fisheries, Joe Borg, called on the institutions to adopt this proposal under the emergency procedure. The European Parliament may return its opinion at the next plenary session (21-24 February in Strasbourg) to allow the Council to adopt the text on 28 February.