EU and Norway agree on closer collaboration on fisheries
Historical archive
Published under: Stoltenberg's 2nd Government
Publisher: Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs
Press release | Date: 04/10/2006 | Last updated: 02/12/2006
Today EU and Norway will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on monitoring, control and surveillance of fisheries. The text sets out a framework for mutual control and enforcement between EU Member States and Norway which will not only facilitate the management of shared fish stocks, but also make a major contribution to both parties' fight against illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing.
Press release
No.: 79/2006
Date: 04.10.06
Contact: Director General Johán H. Williams, + 47 90024446 and Anne-Berit Herstad, adviser at the Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs, + 47 97081522 . Ragnar Semundseth, adviser at the European Commisison, + 47 23115176 / + 47 91803950.
EU and Norway agree on closer collaboration on fisheries
Today EU and Norway will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on monitoring, control and surveillance of fisheries. The text sets out a framework for mutual control and enforcement between EU Member States and Norway which will not only facilitate the management of shared fish stocks, but also make a major contribution to both parties' fight against illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing.
EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Joe Borg, commented: "Illegal fishing activities are one of the major challenges facing both Norway and the European Union. By joining forces, we increase our capacity to combat them. We have a long history of cooperation with Norway, and this development is further proof of our joint commitment to ensuring sustainable fisheries".
Norwegian Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs, Helga Pedersen, also welcomes the agreement: "We are very happy that we have been able to finalise this agreement. Enhanced cooperation between Norway, the EU and EU member states would make the fight against illegal fishing practices much more effective. The agreement paves the way for enhanced cooperation between the partners".
Norwegian Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs, Helga Pedersen, will have talks with EU Commissioner Borg when he visits Oslo this week. The MoU and future cooperation on control and surveillance will be important issues.
Under EU Common Fisheries Policy, control and enforcement remain the responsibility of the EU Member States, and a number of Member Stats have bilateral cooperation arrangements in this field with Norway. The purpose of the Memorandum is therefore to establish common guidelines for such arrangements which will ensure a practical approach to the control of both EU and Norwegian vessels in the waters of the other party. Future bilateral arrangements will be based on the terms of the MoU, and existing arrangements will be modified if necessary to take these new criteria into account.
The MoU will be signed by Johán H. Williams from the Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs and Constantin Alexandrou from the European Commission. The press is invited to the ceremony.
Time: Wednesday 4 October 18:30. Place: Haakon VII's gate 10, 9 th> floor. Entrance from Munkedamsveien.