§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the maritime member states of the European Union which have met their obligations under the terms of the multi-annual guidance programmes in the past five years; which such nations have failed to match the criteria specified in the programmes; and if he will make a statement. [26193]
§ Mr. Jack[holding answer 7 June 1995]: At their inception, multi-annual guidance programmes involved member states setting objectives in agreement with the Commission in order to help re-establish the balance between resources and their exploitation. These objectives were subsequently made mandatory as a result of Council decision 94/15/EC, which set a deadline of 31 December for compliance
The Commission report to the Council and to the European Parliament on the progress of MAGPs for the fishing fleet at the end of 1993, a copy of which is in the Library of each House, showed that Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Spain and Portugal had achieved their interim targets at that date. France had done so for tonnage, but not for vessel power. Documents had been submitted showing that the Italian targets had been met, but the Commission was unable to verify this prior to publication. Ireland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom had not met their interim targets.
Compliance with interim targets is not mandatory. A further report, detailing the position at the end of 1994, is expected to be published soon.