Press Release: Fisheries Council of June 2008 – Statement from Commissioner Borg: ‘Constructive support from the EU to promote the sustainability of the fishing sector’

'The Council took place in the context of an economic crisis afflicting the fishing industry – a crisis of which I and my ministerial colleagues are all too aware, and which we take very seriously. A large part of our debates were devoted to discussing the Commission's plans for an emergency package of measures to help Member States find the right solutions for the sector, based on a commitment to addressing the overcapacity and overexploitation issues. I am grateful to the Ministers for a frank and productive discussion, and the Commission now hopes to be able to go back to Council in July with concrete proposals, on which a rapid decision can be taken.