Planas highlights the "firmness" of the Government and the "outstretched hand" in the face of the European veto on bottom fishing

MADRID, 11 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, has highlighted the "firmness" of the Government and the "outstretched hand" to the European Commission in the face of the European veto on trawling, which Spain will appeal to the Court of Justice of the European Union, despite the reduction from 87 to 41 of the prohibited fishing zones.

"The Government of Spain has a double position, on the one hand of firmness in the appeal that we intend to file before the Court of Justice of the European Union and, on the other hand, of reaching out to the European Commission to proceed on the basis updated scientific data, which are already available and will be completed in the coming weeks to effectively review the decision adopted", Planas pointed out at the press conference after the Council of Ministers.

After affirming that Spain shares measures for the protection of sustainable marine ecosystems, Planas has criticized, however, the adoption by the European Commission of an executive regulation that supposes a decision "without a certain scientific basis" and also with some " serious errors".

The Minister of Agriculture explained that yesterday, just one day after the European veto came into force, "normal" operation has been registered, with adjustment of catches between the different ships of the fleet in a context that the Government is following "very closely".

"It is not possible to make a balance without at least one or two weeks to pass, we are working at the same time on the appeal to be brought before the Court of Justice and we are in permanent contact with the European Commission in this regard," said Planas. .

Likewise, the Minister of Agriculture has denied statements made in the Fisheries Committee of the European Parliament and has ensured that Spain has not only provided all the corresponding data "in due time and form", but that the Commission had them at the time of adopt this decision in the executive regulation, which "especially" worries the Government "taking into account that the new scientific report will be available immediately at the beginning of December". "There we effectively await its review," he added.