Eurocommissaris Borg spreekt in IJsland over samenwerking en visserij (en)

Joe Borg, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, started a two-day visit to Iceland, this morning.

Commissioner Joe Borg wants to emphasise the close relationship between the European Union and Iceland in fisheries as well as in other matters on the basis of the Trade Agreement, concluded in 1972, and the membership of Iceland in the European Economic Area (EEA) which allows Iceland to benefit from the same competition conditions as EU Member States.

In fisheries, there is also good co-operation through a bilateral fisheries agreement, concluded in 1993, and within regional fisheries organisations such as the north-west Atlantic fisheries organisation (NAFO) or the north-east Atlantic fisheries commission (NEAFC). Iceland is also a major EU partner in terms of supply of fish and fisheries products to the EU market, providing 8% of the EU demand, to the tune of € 1 billion.

Speaking at the opening of the Fisheries Exhibition in Reykjavik, Commissioner Borg said that in these days of depleted stocks, changing consumer demands and expectations and the opening of world trade, technology had to be used to ensure sustainable fisheries and to optimise the value derived from fish and fisheries products. The possibilities to achieve this were demonstrated at the fisheries exhibition which brought together all the branches of the fishing industry, from catching to processing, packaging and marketing fish. It was crucial also that all the players concerned came together so as to find the best way ahead for the prosperity and future of the industry.

During his visit, the Commissioner will further develop the need for co-operation between the EU and Iceland. He will tell Icelanders about the benefits of working together with the European Union. Given that they share not only fishing grounds but also similar aims in achieving sustainable fisheries, it would make sense to decide on a common approach to common problems.

This morning Commissioner Borg had a breakfast meeting with Iceland Fisheries Minister, Arni Mathiesen. The issues discussed included ways of effectively tackling illegal fishing, ecosystem management, subsidies to the fishing sector, the management of shared stocks such as herring, mackerel and blue whiting and the work on a consultation paper on a future maritime policy for the EU, being led by the Commissioner.

Commissioner Borg will meet with Foreign Affairs Minister, David Oddsson, over lunch, before meeting with Iceland's Prime Minister, Mr Halldór Ásgrimsson, in the afternoon.

Tomorrow morning, the Commissioner will meet with Members of Iceland's Parliament before attending the Conference of Fisheries Ministers in the afternoon.

He will deliver a speech on the reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and on the work on a future maritime policy for the Union. The Commissioner will outline the progress made since the 2002 reform. He will also address the question of adding value to seafood and aquaculture products. Drawing from a recent seminar, organised by the European Commission on a similar topic, the Commissioner will outline the elements identified as essential for increasing the profitability of the fishing industry: improving quality, innovation and market differentiation. Eco-labelling of fish and fisheries products, on which the EU and Iceland have been working together, could play an important role in this direction.

The visit will be concluded with a dinner on Thursday evening hosted by Minister Mathiesen.

See MEMO/05/305