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EUROPEAN CETACEAN BYCATCH CAMPAIGN |
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We are aware of our social responsibility. So in order to finance this concept EU aid is available to help fishermen who leave the sector find alternative jobs or retire. We have asked Member States to redirect the money, as in present times it is far more important for the money to go to social measures for fishermen than towards building new boats. |
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We estimate that after reprogramming, we will need an additional 88 million EURO for these measures. By the way, it is not true that the UK taxpayer will finance the retirement of Spanish fishermen. Spain will do this from its own envelope. |
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We will also free an additional 272 million EURO to scrap vessels. I want to assure you that we will not leave you alone with your problems. |
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But let's not forget: We can have as many rules as we want, but without uniform control and sanctions throughout the European Union the system wouldn't work. UK fishermen have long been calling for a level-playing field in this area and rightly so. |
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What we need is therefore not centralisation of control in Brussels, we are not stripping Westminster of its control duties, but we need co-ordination of the national and EU control activities and a pooling of means. Inspections will be carried out in future by teams of inspectors from several Member States. |
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To ensure the involvement of stakeholders, we took up your ideas on zonal management. We propose Regional Advisory Councils for different sea areas. To give you an example, in the Regional Advisory Council for the North Sea all Community fishermen who fish in that area would be represented and so would scientists and NGOs. Through these Councils fishermen will advise Member States and the Commission on management measures. |
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This way we can benefit from your expertise and we can discuss different management measures and their advantages and disadvantages. To those who fear that RACs will only be 'talking shops' I say: these councils will only be as good as you make them. Come and participate and make sure that they become full players in the fisheries management process. |
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Our first reform package contains our overall objectives for the future |
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and our reform proposals on stock conservation policy,on the integration of environmental objectives into the CFP, on fleet policy, on fisheries control and on the fight against illegal fishing. Our timetable foresees measures coming into force on 1 January 2003. |
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These are the main elements of our proposals to secure the future of EU fisheries. I am now looking forward to discuss our proposals with you and answer questions. |
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Thank you for your attention. |
