"At the beginning of this Council meeting I said that these talks were a test of how seriously the Union wants to take its new, reformed fisheries policy, based on social and environmental sustainability" he said. "I can say today that we have passed this test. This decision shows that the reform of the fisheries policy is not a 'paper tiger' or rather "paper cod.'"
Fischler believes that the negotiations, which were complicated and highly sensitive, have resulted in a balanced compromise. "Today's decision takes account of the social aspects, i.e. fishermen will be able to continue fishing at a reduced level and will not have to stop altogether; but at the same time the compromise is also justifiable in biological terms since long-term recovery plans will be in force for the first time for endangered stocks such as cod, hake and plaice," he said.
Fischler said that for threatened stocks, the inadequacy of annually adopted measures will be replaced by multiannual programmes tailored to each region and the state of each fishery. These will involve not only catch quotas and restrictions on fishing effort but also tighter policing.
"Scientists have been calling for these measures for many years," said Fischler. "I know that the next few years will not be easy ones for some fishermen. However, these long-term plans will finally give them a clearer view of what to expect and will ensure at the end of the day that the future of the EU's fishing industry is more secure. This is ultimately my main concern. Union funding will be available to help cushion any social hardships, the Member States need only to take this up and send in their applications to the Commission."