EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Union has adopted an emergency aid package worth up to €2 billion to help the struggling fishing sector tackle the current fuel crisis, including monies previously announced, with €600 million in extra cash to be added to the existing funds. "Political agreement was reached by a qualified majority on urgent measures for the fishing sector," said Michel Barnier, agriculture minister of France, the current holder of EU's six-month rotating presidency. The EU has moved to boost cash for fishermen amid soaring oil prices The move comes after intense pressure from the struggling sector, which saw militant protests by fishermen extending even to the Brussels, whose European institutions were rocked by violent demonstrations last month amid a jump in diesel prices by 240 percent since 2002. After a tough debate that dragged until late evening on Tuesday (15 July), ministers agreed that the extra cash for fishermen would come from two key sources: some €1.4 billion from the European Fisheries Fund and national contributions, plus €600 million as part of an emergency plan announced last week by the European Commission.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Union has adopted an emergency aid package worth up to €2 billion to help the struggling fishing sector tackle the current fuel crisis, including monies previously announced, with €600 million in extra cash to be added to the existing funds.
"Political agreement was reached by a qualified majority on urgent measures for the fishing sector," said Michel Barnier, agriculture minister of France, the current holder of EU's six-month rotating presidency.
The EU has moved to boost cash for fishermen amid soaring oil prices
The move comes after intense pressure from the struggling sector, which saw militant protests by fishermen extending even to the Brussels, whose European institutions were rocked by violent demonstrations last month amid a jump in diesel prices by 240 percent since 2002.
After a tough debate that dragged until late evening on Tuesday (15 July), ministers agreed that the extra cash for fishermen would come from two key sources: some €1.4 billion from the European Fisheries Fund and national contributions, plus €600 million as part of an emergency plan announced last week by the European Commission.
There's two fundamental problems:
