Commissioner Damanaki in Scotland to discuss maritime and fisheries issues

On Friday morning, on 1, October 2010 the Commissioner has a breakfast meeting with UK Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon, Scottish Fisheries Minister Richard Lochhead, representatives of leading UK retailers and processors and WWF where the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) will be discussed, reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to EC.

A photo opportunity will be organised at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre. At the same venue, at 9h30, the Commissioner will address the General Assembly of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR), which will be taking place from 29 September to 1 October. The CPRM groups representatives from 161 maritime regions, 28 EU member and non-member States and 200 million inhabitants. Commissioner Damanaki will highlight the Commission's priorities for the EU's Integrated Maritime Policy in the years to come. She will stress the need for coherent, integrated strategies by sea basin. For this, much like for the reform of the CFP, the role of peripheral regions is vital. A press point is organised at 11h00.

The Commissioner will then meet a group of maritime stakeholders for a debate on the major maritime issues in the North Sea, before attending a working lunch with the North Sea fisheries ministers, in which catch limits, TAC and quotas, discards and the North Sea RAC will be discussed. On 2 October, Ms Damanaki will meet with Scottish Fisheries Minister Richard Lochhead and with Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond in Edinburgh. The points on the agenda include the cod recovery plan, Iceland and the Faroe Islands mackerel issue, the reform of the common fisheries policy and other topics of mutual interest to Scotland and the Commission. Commissioner Damanaki will end her visit with a meeting with Scottish Members of the European Parliament to discuss current issues in maritime and fisheries policies.