§ Mrs. HumbleTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment her Department has made of the obstacles to the UK(a) withdrawing from the Common Fisheries Policy and (b) creating an alternative structure for UK fisheries management; [163847]
(2) what assessment her Department has made of the legal steps that would be required for the UK to withdraw from the Common Fisheries Policy. [163848]
§ Mr. BradshawWithdrawal from the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) would only be achievable by a complex renegotiation of European Union treaties with other member states.
The Prime Minister's Strategy Unit concludes that sustainable fisheries management is most likely to be achieved inside a reformed and regionalised CFP—and the way we carry forward their recommendations will be an integral part of the CFP reforms we agreed in December 2002.
One of these reforms was provision for the establishment of trans-national Regional Advisory Councils (RACs). These will bring together fishermen, scientists and all with an interest in the fish stocks and their exploitation to help develop ways forward to which all parties can subscribe. The industry and other organisations in the UK are at the forefront of action to establish RACs, and a Council Decision is likely to be adopted next month which will allow interested parties to take forward their proposals quickly. We believe RACs to be a groundbreaking change for the CFP—they will help develop more effective consultation and a strong regional focus.