IP/06/267
Brussels, 6 March 2006
Joe Borg in England European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Joe Borg today begins a two-day visit to the UK. This afternoon the Commissioner will address the opening plenary of the World Maritime Technology Conference (WMTC) at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London, where he will outline progress with the preparation of the Commission’s Green Paper on Maritime Policy and emphasise the role of research and training in securing sustainable growth and better jobs throughout the European maritime sector. Tomorrow, Mr Borg will travel to Lancashire to visit the port of Fleetwood, where he will visit various facilities and meet with local industry representatives to discuss their most pressing concerns.
“The World Maritime Technology Conference is a key event in the maritime affairs calendar,” said Commissioner Borg, “and its cross-sectoral approach matches very well with the Commission’s own thinking on the crucial subject of research and development.”
In his speech to the WMTC’s opening session, Commissioner Borg will focus on the theme of the conference itself – technology and the need for innovation. The forthcoming publication of the Green Paper on Maritime Policy demonstrates that Europe’s maritime dimension is now a real and tangible priority for the Commission led by President Barroso. The aim of the Green Paper is to open a broad consultation on possible options which could help the European Union maximise the benefits it draws from its seas and oceans and translate their wealth into both sustainable growth based on real competitive advantages and a higher quality of employment and opportunity.
The Commission has already identified marine science and research as one of its strategic priorities for 2005-09, and research should also be a key component in any future EU Maritime Policy.
On Tuesday, Joe Borg will travel to Fleetwood in Lancashire, northern England. Besides its port facilities, Fleetwood is also a major centre for the processing and marketing of seafood from across the UK, and its auction hall handles around 5000 tonnes of fisheries landings every year. Commissioner Borg will visit the port and various neighbouring facilities, and will meet with stakeholders to discuss their concerns. Issues to be discussed will include the impact of the 2006 TACs and quotas regulation on the local catching sector, approaches to discard reduction, and industry-led initiatives for more selective fishing techniques.
