Four countries unite to urge EU help for fishing industry

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

MADRID (AFP) — Spain, France, Italy and Portugal Friday jointly called for urgent EU measures to tackle the fuel-price crisis in the fishing industry, the Spanish government said following a meeting in Madrid.

The rapid rise in the price of oil has pushed up the cost of marine diesel by around 30 percent since the beginning of the year, causing trawler owners to warn they face bankruptcy without increased subsidies.

The fishermen have staged Europe-wide strikes and protests since last week.

Representatives of the four countries met in Madrid and called on the European Commission to adopt "urgent measures" to tackle the crisis," Spain's fisheries ministry said in a statement.

It said the measures could be applied by individual countries according to...