11/01/2008 (Agence Europe) - European Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg has said that a French plan to assist fishermen affected by the rise in fuel prices could be authorised. Certain forms of subsidy could be permissible if they resulted in a restructuring of the fishing fleet, making it thus more competitive, he said at a colloquium organised by the European Policy Centre on 10 January. “We are working closely with France to see what measures are acceptable from the European point of view … something that cannot be done if taken in isolation, for example because of maintaining competition rules, might be able to be done if it is part of a comprehensive restructuring plan,” the commissioner added, quoted by AFP. France plans to bring in a 2% tax, to be paid by distributors, on fish sales to help the fishing sector. The tax plan will be accompanied by a wider plan to modernise the sector, the details of which will be revealed in the near future. (L.C.)