§ Mr. WilkinsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will seek to prevent applicant countries for membership of the EU from enjoying the right to fish in EU waters other than EU waters for which they already have fishing rights after they have been accepted as members of the European Union; [26566]
(2) what power exists within the treaties of the European Union to prevent applicant countries for membership of the European Union from fishing in EU waters other than those in which they currently have rights once they have joined the European Union. [26567]
§ Mr. MorleyThe terms of access to EU waters for fishing by new Member States are subject to negotiation and will be included in their respective Accession Treaties. The Government will aim to ensure that the fishing quotas within EU waters allocated to new Member States on accession are for the areas and stocks for which they already have fishing rights. This is consistent with the established principle of relative stability.