SNP President and Euro MP Ian Hudghton MEP has backed the stand by Scottish fishermen on the recent unilateral action by Iceland to extend their mackerel quota and on their forthcoming referendum on EU membership.
Mr Hudghton took part in the European Parliament debate on Iceland’s application for EU membership July 7 while formal talks between the European Union and Iceland continue.
Of a total of 22 MEPs who won speaking time in the debate, six of whom were from the UK, with Ian Hudghton the only MEP from Scotland who spoke in the debate.
Ian Hudghton said: “I was the only MEP who took advantage of the opportunity in the general debate to refer to the mackerel issue.
“I fully support the Scottish pelagic industry in its view of recent actions by Iceland on mackerel quota. That is why in the debate I said that there is a need for urgent discussion with Iceland on the issue of the mackerel fishery and that these discussions should be brought forward. Action on the mackerel issue cannot wait to be included in the one or two year process of detailed membership negotiations with Iceland. Existing bilateral agreements ought to be enforced.
“Very recently it has been reported that there is increasing opposition to EU membership among Icelanders. There is no attraction whatsoever for Iceland in being offered the opportunity to join the EU Common Fisheries Policy as it stands. Therefore there is no leverage to be had, on the mackerel issue, from threatening to block Iceland’s accession to the EU and the CFP
“Following the debate, a very large majority of MEPs approved a 32-paragraph resolution on Iceland’s EU membership bid. One section acknowledged that ‘Iceland has managed its marine resources in a responsible and sustainable manner’, and called for a ‘constructive attitude in fisheries talks so that the outcome may be a mutually satisfactory solution based on best practices and protecting the best interests of both fishermen and consumers in the EU as well as in Iceland’.
He warned that if Iceland does agree a deal on EU membership terms, do not be surprised if independent Iceland demonstrates that it has more clout on CFP reform than Scotland has as part of the UK.
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