Minister Arias Cañete is optimist as to the continuity of aids for scrapping. (Photo: Magrama)

Spanish optimism on the future of scrapping aid

EUROPEAN UNION
Wednesday, October 17, 2012, 03:40 (GMT + 9)

The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Magrama), Miguel Arias Cañete, believes there is "significant progress" in community negotiations on the future of aid to the fishing fleet.

In his opinion, the talks are "on track" and one of the major developments is related to the continuity of the support for the scrapping of fishing vessels, a request made by Spain.

From next week in Luxembourg, the Fisheries Ministers of the European Union (EU) will negotiate the future of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund to be applied from 2014 to 2020.

The Spanish Minister appreciates that the Cypriot rotating presidency of the EU has submitted a new proposal in which for the first time there is "flexibility" when talking about the possibility of maintaining the economic support for temporary or permanent stoppages of the fishing activities. And he stresses that this is also seen as bonuses linked to the modernization of fishing vessels, reports La Opinión.

A while ago, the EU Fisheries Commissioner, Maria Damanaki, expressed deep rejection to granting these subsidies, because she argues that the aids for scrapping have failed to adapt the capacity of the fleet to fish stocks.

The European official also addressed the elimination of the new European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.

According to Arias Cañete, the government and the autonomous regions agree that this progress is positive. They value the fact that for the first time there is flexibility, but they consider that "the steps" taken so far are "insufficient".

In this regard, the minister said that Spain will ask the Cabinet to ensure aids and "longer" periods of time.

Related article:

- Eight European countries require keeping scrapping aid

By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com

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