16/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission said on Thursday 4 April that it would look carefully at the €4 million in aid that France intends to grant to fishermen in the north of the country who were calling for higher quotas. “I would simply point out that operational aid is not allowed. However, there is aid possible within the European Fisheries Fund. We will have to see what type of aid is being offered,” said the spokeswoman for European Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg. The blockade of the French ports of Calais and Dunkirk (Nord) set up on Tuesday in an attempt to win higher quotas was provisionally lifted on Thursday 16 April to allow striking fishermen to attend union meetings. The blockade on the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer remained in place. (L.C./transl.rt)