Letter from Lord Reay, Chairman of Sub-Committee D
to Tony Baldry MP, Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Food,
Document 12466/96: Proposal for a Council Decision
on a Specific Measure to Encourage Italian Fishermen to Diversify
out of Certain Fishing Activities
At its meeting last week, Sub-Committee D of the European
Communities Committee considered this document.
The Sub-Committee invited me to write expressing its support
of the position adopted by Her Majesty's Government in opposition
to the proposal. We share the Government view that it would be
inappropriate for Community funds to be used to pay Italian fishermen
to comply with their proper obligations. Although the proposals
would involve diversion of funds which have in any case been allocated
to Italy, we share the view that it would create an unfortunate
precedent if compliance with Community legislation could only
be achieved by means of financial incentive.
This letter lifts the scrutiny reserve.
12 March 1997
