Paris told to revise key element of aid plan

摘要

The European Commission cannot accept one of the key elements of the French government's plan to aid fishermen, presented in January 2008, which offers financial support to help offset the surge in diesel fuel prices. In an interview with the French press agency AFP, on 19 July in Vigo (Spain), Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg called on Paris to revise its key measure to make it compatible with the European plan for restructuring of the fishing industry, adopted on 15 July). The difference of opinion concerns one of the 15 measures (Point 9) of the €310 million French plan, 'For sustainable and responsible fisheries', presented at the start of the year by French Fisheries Minister Michel Barnier. "Adapting this ninth point to make it compatible with the European aid package adopted last week could be the solution for obtaining the [Commission's] go-ahead and the restructuring of certain segments of the French fleet," said Borg.