The Commission's Green Paper on the Common Fisheries Policy reflects a number of priority themes for Ireland, including sustainable fisheries development, the conservation imperative and more transparent governance. However, in line with the position of the national CFP strategy group I have underlined to the Commission and the Council the need to fully take on board the social and economic aspects of fisheries policy, reflecting the needs of coastal regions in Ireland which are highly dependent on fisheries.
Better alignment of the CFP with social, regional and cohesion policies is critical for the future of coastal communities and small-scale inshore fleets. I have pressed the Commission to show real initiative in terms of safeguarding coastal zones and resources and the future of fisheries dependent areas.
In the light of the Green Paper and in advance of the Commission's formal proposals on CFP reform, I have worked with like-minded EU colleagues to develop common positions on certain key priorities. A coalition of interests has emerged among member states with significant fisheries dependent regions and for whom the socio-economic dimension of fisheries is fundamental. This strategic alliance consists of Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Greece. Following a number of high level meetings last autumn I and my five ministerial colleagues agreed a set of common conclusions in Brussels last December which we presented to Commissioner Fischler. Top of the list is the need for the CFP to take fully into account the economic and social dimension of fisheries and to underpin fisheries employment through the provision of safe and acceptable working conditions as well as opportunities for diversification.
There was a strong view among the Ministers involved that a common position should be articulated in order to counterbalance the tendency for biological concerns to predominate in the thinking of the Commission and of certain other member states. I emphasise that there are a number of other issues around the reform debate where we part company from the French and Spanish positions. Hague Preference and the preservation of the Irish Box are two such cases in point where we have more in common with the UK. However, in terms of driving the socio-economic agenda of fisheries and fleet policy, this selective strategic alliance is to our negotiating advantage.
The Commission will present its formal proposals on CFP reform shortly. Substantive negotiations will begin under the current Spanish Presidency and will culminate under the Danish Presidency at the end of this year.
The key objectives for Ireland in the negotiation process are to influence and shape the direction of much needed reform while maximising the national position in terms of our key priorities. I will continue, with the support of the National Strategy Review Group, to work towards those objectives. I will travel to Madrid this month to meet the Spanish president in order to get full support from the Spanish presidency for our priorities in the CFP review.