§ Mr. GillTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement concerning his meeting with National Federation of Fisheries Organisations and the Scottish Fishermen's Federation on 30 April; and what issues raised at that meeting will be taken forward to the next meeting of fisheries ministers. [43872]
§ Mr. MorleyAt my meeting with the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations and Scottish Fishermen's Federation on 30 April we discussed their joint paper on the future of the Common Fisheries Policy after 2002.
I warmly welcomed the joint strategy as a good basis for discussion. Over the coming months the UK industry will discuss the paper with their counterparts in other Member States and there will be further discussions among ourselves in this country.
Reform of the CFP is a continuous process, and the June Fisheries Council will be looking at reform of the marketing regime as well as proposals for changes to the rules on enforcement. The Commission will also be making a report on preparation for the 2002 review.
75W
§ Mr. GillTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what amendment to the Treaty of Rome established the without time limit derogation of national allocation of quota from the equal access principle; [43819]
(2) pursuant to his answer of 6 May 1998, Official Report, column 421, if the common resource principle is part of Council Regulation EEC 3760/92. [43816]
§ Mr. MorleyThe principle of equal access to fishing grounds is not set down in the EC Treaty but in Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2141/70. Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3760/92 heavily qualifies the principle so far as the practical operation of the Common Fisheries Policy is concerned.