EAPO said today Commissioner Borg accepted a significant number of proposals.

Dr Borg met an EAPO delegation delegation which consisted of Sean O’Donoghue from Ireland (President of EAPO), José Suarez Llanos of Spain (Secretary), Christian Olesen from Denmark (Treasurer) and Emiel Brouckaert from Belgium (Secretary-general).

EAPO put forward four topics for discussion:

1. Review of the Common Organisation of the Market Regulation (COM 104/2000):

2. Cod Recovery Plans;

3. Interaction between RACs / ACFA / ICES and the timing of scientific advice;

4. Fuel crisis and initiatives.

The Association said Commissioner Borg committed himself to (1) organize a Common Organisation of Market (COM) workshop or seminar, inviting all European Fish Producer Organisations and agreed to consult EAPO on its detailed COM recommendations; (2) he committed to fast-track a mid-year revision of the TAC and quota regulation on Celtic Sea cod, based on ICES advice; (3) he agreed with the necessity to make ad hoc consultation arrangements with the industry for 2008 for pelagic stocks to allow the industry to give its advice before the Commission starts consultations and (4) the Commissioner committed to allocate resources to find mid-to-long term solutions put forward by EAPO for the escalating oil prices which is "killing" the industry.

EAPO’s President Sean O’Donoghue said after the meeting: “I am very pleased with the positive reaction that Commissioner Borg and his officials gave to the key issues that EAPO put forward”. He added: “It is very encouraging for EAPO as a major European organisation that the time and effort EAPO members have spent on formulating detailed recommendations is so well received by the Commissioner. As President of EAPO I must thank Brian Crowley Member of European Parliament for helping to set up this the meeting with Commissioner Joe Borg”.

The European Association of Fish Producers Organisations (EAPO) protects the interests of 30 Producers Organisations from 10 EU Member States on a European level and represents around 10,000 fishing vessels, 4.8 million tonnes of fish landings and €3 billion of first sale value.

www.fishupdate.com is published by Special Publications. Special Publications also publish FISHupdate magazine, Fish Farmer, the Fish Industry Yearbook, the Scottish Seafood Processors Federation Diary, the Fish Farmer Handbook and a range of wallplanners.

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