Better fisheries management: Commission organises a seminar on multiannual management plans

– (IT) Mr President, on page 15 of the opinion of the Committee on Budgets we read that appropriations of EUR 86 million are being devoted to assistance for Mauritania: assistance for research, for fisheries, for developing statistics, for rescue services at sea, for fishing licences, for the costs of organising seminars and meetings, for the development of regional fishing; but I do not, Mr President, see any entry with the title ‘assistance to the pensioners of Mauritania, assistance for speeding up the payment of contributions and for having occupational pensions for fishermen’.

I have been talking to him in person this week in connection with a fisheries event taking place simultaneously in Brussels, which we have already criticised in our Committee on Fisheries: a seminar on control over fisheries is being held, to which MEPs were invited during a week in which we also have a plenary sitting in Strasbourg, the timetable for which was known a year in advance.

) the financing of scientific and technical programmes (equipment, infrastructure, improved fisheries-related administrative and training structures, etc.) to increase knowledge of the fishery resources in Comorian waters: ECU 250 000, 2) support for the structures responsible for fisheries surveillance: ECU 70 000, 3) institutional support to the Ministry responsible for fisheries: ECU 50 000, 4) the financing of study grants, practical training courses or seminars in the various scientific, technical and economic fields linked to fishing: ECU 60 000, 5) the Comoros' contribution to the international fisheries organisations: ECU 70 ...[+++]000, 6) the expenses of Comorian delegates participating in international meetings concerning fisheries: ECU 40 000.

Early this year, the European Parliament and the European Commission decided to hold three discussion seminars on common fisheries policy: . on 23 June, a seminar was held in Ancona (Italy) on management policy and the conservation of fishery resources; . on 3 October, a seminar will be held in Santiago de Compostela (Spain) on structural policy to assist fisheries and aquaculture; . in March 1996, a seminar will be held in Vendée (France) on fisheries agreements and trade policy for the fisheries sector.

The Commission will present the fishing vessel register of the Community, after which there will be an exchange of views between the Commission, Parliament and the industry on various topical issues On 3 October, there is to be a discussion seminar with the European Parliament's Committee on Fisheries, to deal with the subject of a structural policy for the sea fishing industry and areas dependent on fishing.