At the entrance of European Fisheries Policy Council, Mr Arias Caete stressed that the European Maritime Fund is "an extremely important tool for Spain so it seems reasonable that the Commission has succeeded in placing the initial proposals stage budget in excess of 6,500 million, which we consider acceptable. Now we have to analyse the distribution criteria."
In addition, Mr Arias Canete said that Spain shares with the Commission the need to put fish stocks at optimal levels, "although we have a disagreement over the timetable for achieving them." As explained by the Minister, the Commission places the date in 2015, "but we believe we have to have a more realistic scenario, and follow the path that was outlined at the Summit in Nagoya in 2020," he pointed out.
Mr Arias Caete stressed that, in setting this schedule, it must take into account how difficult it is to achieve a balance in fish stocks in mixed fisheries, and in the Mediterranean.
In this sense, Mr Arias Caete stressed that: "The Spanish Government's position is very clear, we will work on trying to strike a balance between the proposals of the Commission and industry needs."
Minister Aims to Keep 1,800 Million Marine Fisheries Fund
SPAIN - The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Miguel Arias Caete, has defended in Brussel the participation of Spain in the European Maritime Fund saying that fish levels have been maintained so that Spain can aspire to 1,800 million in the new programme.
by Lucy Towers
