Working alongside Scotland's representatives in the European Parliament, the Scottish Government has ensured that Scotland's priorities are heard in the centre of European democracy.
This engagement has resulted in the Scottish Government hosting two seminars in the European Parliament building in Brussels. Attendance by leading MEPs of the Fisheries Committee, industry leaders, senior Commission officials and Commissioner Damanaki bear witness to the fact that Scotland is listened to and is a serious contributor to bringing about a real reform of fisheries management.
The Future of Fisheries Management:
Towards a sustainable & discard free future
15 March 2011
This event, attended by Commissioner Damanaki and held at the European Parliament in Brussels, highlighted the findings of the authoritative independent Inquiry into Future Fisheries Management and discussed real and successful examples of co-management and regional solutions in application.
Speakers included; Kjartan Hoydal of NEAFC and the Inquiry into Future Fisheries Management, Dr. Mireille Thom of WWF Scotland, Mike Park of the Scottish White Fish Producer's Association and Commissioner Damanaki. To help facilitate discussion a paper from David Symes of the University of Hull was circulated in advance.
Fisheries Management Reform:
A Regional Approach to Fisheries Management in the EU
28 April 2010
In the spring of 2010 the Scottish Government took forward this event, at the European Parliament, in Brussels, to air real regional solutions to the failed central management of the Common Fisheries Policy. This followed a strong level of support for the concept of decentralised management being evident in the Commission's ongoing consultation on CFP reform.
This event looked at:
- the concept of regional management;
- regional management in practice; and,
- existing examples of delegated management.
Speaking included leading MEPs and individuals from; the North Sea Commission, the Danish Government, DG Mare, the fishing industry, Client Earth, WWF and the Scottish Government.