Ministers van visserij van staten aan de Baltische zee komen bijeen om oplossingen voor visserijproblemen te bespreken (en)

Met dank overgenomen van Zweeds voorzitterschap Europese Unie 2e helft 2009 i, gepubliceerd op maandag 28 september 2009.

On Thursday 1 October, fisheries ministers from the countries around the Baltic Sea will meet to discuss the fish situation in the Baltic Sea. During the two-day conference the ministers will sign a declaration on how the countries together can solve the problems of fish stocks in the Baltic Sea.

The Baltic Sea is a unique and sensitive body of water with special requirements. There are many challenges on the way to long-term sustainable fishing. During the conference, ministers and experts will talk about the Baltic Sea fisheries and their future, and how we can better manage fish in the Baltic Sea. The EU Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Joe Borg, will speak about how the Common Fisheries Policy can be reformed.

“Improving the EU fisheries policy is one of my top priorities during the Swedish Presidency of the EU,” says Minister for Agriculture Eskil Erlandsson. “We have managed to improve the situation for cod but several fish stocks are in a bad way. It is therefore important that we learn from past mistakes and look to the future, keeping our eyes open for new solutions”.

“To save the fish in the Baltic Sea, all countries must pull together. That is why we are convening a meeting of fisheries ministers from the Baltic Sea countries. It is in line with the Baltic Sea Strategy to increase regional cooperation around the Baltic sea.” Mr Erlandsson concludes.

Press conference and signing of declaration

Time: 13.15

Place: Grand Hotel Saltsjöbaden, Stockholm

Advance notification of attendance is required and must be made by 29 September. Please contact Johanna Dahlin, telephone: +46 8 405 10 14, +46 73 372 19 18.

Participants

Participants include Eskil Erlandsson, Minister for Agriculture, Sweden; Joe Borg, EU Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries; Eva Kjær Hansen, Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Denmark; Janis Duklavs, Minister of Agriculture, Latvia; Jaanus Tamkivi, Minister of the Environment, Estonia; Kazys Starkevicius, Minister of Agriculture, Lithuania; Jouni Lind, State Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Finland; Walter Dübner, State Secretary, Germany; and Kazimierz Plocke, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Poland.

More than 130 people are expected from environmental organisations, fisheries organisations, the business sector and government agencies.

More about the conference

The conference is being held under the auspices of the Swedish Presidency of the EU and is organised by the Ministry of Agriculture in cooperation with the Baltic Sea Regional Advisory Council (BS RAC) and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC).