compensation for lost fishing time

The Chair: Before we go to Mr. Mia, I want to advise members we are extending the hours to compensate for the push-back as a result of the vote.

60. Supports the continuation of POSEI-Fisheries (scheme to compensate for the additional costs incurred in the marketing of certain fishery products from the outermost regions) along the same lines as POSEI-Agriculture; believes, in this connection, that this programme should remain in force permanently, since outermost status is a permanent factor;

It was perhaps the Commission’s initial lack of interest in the negotiations that led to some of the criticisms in the report about the procedure that was followed, despite the fact that Mauritania continues to be one of the European Union’s major fishing partners and despite the fact that the financial contribution is still one of the largest and involves ever-greater commitments towards developing the Community fisheries sector.

3. Considers it necessary to maintain and step up Community support for the fishing industries in the ORs, with particular reference to the programme for compensating the additional costs arising from their remote status vis-à-vis the disposal of certain fisheries products in a number of outermost regions (POSEI - Fisheries); in this connection, believes that this programme should continue in force indefinitely, since outermost status is a permanent factor, and appreciates the increase in appropriations for the programme in the Community budget for 2008;