France let off the hook on EU fisheries law

The EU has lifted a semi-annual €58m fine against France, saying the country is now properly enforcing EU fishing rules.

The European court of justice fined France €20m in 2005, plus a penalty of €58m every six months, for failing to properly enforce the EU’s common fisheries policy rules.

The court found that France failed to thoroughly inspect fish landings and did not do enough to crach down in illegal catches of undersized hake and other species.

Following a “thorough evaluation of the situation”, the commission has now concluded that “huge progress has been achieved” and that France “has fully implemented the court requirements”.

The decision brings an end to a legal case which has been going on since 1991, when the court of justice first ruled that France was not complying with EU fisheries rules.

“This is good news all round,” commented EU fisheries commissioner Joe Borg.

“The sustainability of fisheries depends entirely on the proper implementation of all fisheries measures.”

“The changes made by France will strengthen our common efforts to effectively discourage illegal fishing activities,” he added.

Borg is fighting to crack down on illegal fisheries and get rid of loopholes in several EU countries’ fishing rules.

The commission also insists that EU fishing quotas must be brought down to sustainable levels, amid scientists’ warning of depleting fish stocks. 

But several countries led by France, Spain and Portugal, which have a large fisheries sector, are resisting EU moves to cut fishing quotas.

The EU's fishing quotas for 2007-08, agreed upon on November 22, have been criticised by environmental groups, who say ministers caved in to pressure from the fishing lobby.

The ministers agreed to reduce quotas for a number of endangered species but fell short of suspending fisheries despite advice from ICES, the scientific body that assesses deep-sea stocks.

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