MEP raises fishing fuel crisis in Europe
04 June 2008
Speaking in the European Parliament in Brussels, Traditional Unionist MEP, Jim Allister, raised the current plight of the fishing industry in face of runaway fuel prices. He called for help both from the EU - through setting aside some of the notorious underspend in its budget to help the sector - and again rounded on Minister Gildernew for refusing to pay the de minimus aid with EU rules allow.
In the course of his remarks Mr Allister said:-
"Across Europe we have seen wholly justified protests by fishermen about the sky-high price of fuel. Some Governments have faced up to their responsibilities, others, my own included, have not.
We are supposed to have a Common Fisheries Policy but in many regions of Europe the approach is anything but common. In my constituency, Northern Ireland, local trawler owners are paying a fuel bill of up to 1500GBP per day. Their plea for short-term aid has fallen on deaf ears, even though it lies within the power of the local Minister to pay de minimus aid of 7500 Euros per boat, she shamefully refuses to help. Yet in France and Spain government aid is on hand. How can you have a viable common fisheries policy with such disparity on the basic commodity of fuel.
I condemn Minister Gildernew's indifference and call not just for short-term aid but a long term fuel strategy for our fishing fleets."
