Allister battles over fish quotas in Brussels
02 December 2008
Traditional Unionist MEP Jim Allister has launched a two-pronged lobbying exercise in Brussels concerning the upcoming fishing quotas. The MEP met both Commissioner Borg and the UK Permanent Representative in Brussels, who will attend the quota-setting talks.
In a statement Mr Allister said:-
"I pressed very strongly upon Commissioner Borg the deep resentment over the 25% cut in "days at sea" and stressed that if the Commission stuck to its savage quota cuts on prawns, herring, cod and plaice, then the Northern Ireland industry would be on its last legs. Saving our prawn quota is a top priority, but we also need a break on other species, especially plaice and herring where the science is good.
In a way my meeting with the First Secretary of the UK Permanent Representation to the EU was even more important, in that it is they who can shape how hard the UK fights for our interests. Again, I left him in no doubt about how imperative it is to retain our quotas. I was somewhat reassured to be told that saving the prawn quota is a top British priority. We now look for full delivery on this commitment.
As things stand the Commission wishes to slash our quotas in herring, cod, whiting, prawns, place and sole. We could not survive such savagery. I trust my efforts today will go some way to staving off the worst of what the Commission would like to do to us."
