Brussels, 14/05/2009 (Agence Europe) - Meeting in General Assembly on Tuesday 12 May, Europêche members (association of national organisations of fishing enterprises in the EU) decided to take in new members. Applications for affiliation had been received from four organisations in the sea-fishing sector: the Polish Organisation of North-Atlantic Producers (PAOP) and three Italian cooperation organisations: AGCI-Agrital, LEGAPESCA and FEDERCOOPESCA.
Europêche is thus strengthening its geographical, political and professional representation. At present, it is made up of 19 member organisations from 13 different member states. Concerned at the delay incurred by fishing industry professionals in the new member states in seeking representation at Community level, Europêche together with its European social partner ETF (European Transport Workers' Federation) is launching a community project in the new member states and in the candidate countries aimed at integrating them into the Brussels decision-making process. “Social dialogue is part of the acquis communautaire”, said Niels Wichmann, President of Europêche, who trusts that representatives of the sector from Slovenia, Cyprus, Estonia and other Baltic countries will soon be able to come to defend their positions in Europêche working meetings. (L.C./transl.jl)