HOUSE OF LORDS TO DEBATE EU COMMITTEE REPORT ON COMMON FISHERIES POLICY

Published: 25 June, 2009

On Monday, June 29 the House of Lords will debate the report on the

progress of the Common Fisheries Policy published by the Lords EU

Committee last July.The committee's report called for a 'radical reorientation' of the Common Fisheries Policy to reduce centralisation and ensure that the fishing industry's regional stakeholders were given a greater role in achieving the objectives of the policy.

The committee concluded that the CFP deserved its 'dismal' reputation

and argued that the 2002 reforms had failed. They also pointed out that

other EU countries had a significantly worse record than the UK in

bringing the size of their fishing fleets into line with diminished

fishing opportunities.

The debate in the House of Lords will start after 7pm on Monday.

Lord Sewel who chairs the House of Lords EU sub-committee on environment

and agriculture will open the debate with Lord Davies of Oldham

responding for the government.