Fisheries Council (Hansard, 19 March 1993)

§ Mr. Curry

I attended the Council of Fisheries Ministers in Brussels on 18 March 1993 together with the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, my hon. Friend the Member for Dumfries (Sir Hector Monro).

The main issue at this meeting was consideration of the state of the market. I emphasised that the situation is serious, and that there are a variety of causes. For the United Kingdom, the problem is clearly being made worse by the violent action of French fishermen. I obtained an assurance from the French Minister that France will take more vigorous action to restore trading activity to normal and to protect consignments exported from Britain to France.

Problems are also being caused by imports from outside the Community. The Council noted that the minimum import prices, recently introduced, are not working effectively. All Ministers agreed to ensure rigorous enforcement of these and the Community's hygiene rules. The Council asked the Commission to make proposals for better control of direct landings by third country vessels, to consider the case for extension of the minimum import prices to further species of fish, and to open talks with the exporting countries most involved about co-operation to stabilise the market. Responsibility for market management lies with the Commission, who will with member States collect fuller data on the state of the market and who will consider whether further initiatives are needed.

The Council provided directions for further work on the proposed new control regulation, with a view to final decisions being taken in the summer. I made clear to the Council the importance we attach to achieving improved enforcement throughout the Community.

There was a preliminary discussion about the Commission's report, required by treaty, on the operation of the accession arrangements for Spain and Portugal.