THE European Union's fishing fleet must be trimmed, but the final decision is a matter for member governments, the European Commission President said in Dublin yesterday.
A partial lifting of the British beef ban might also be agreed by a qualified majority of member states early next week, Mr Jacques Santer said yesterday.
Mr Santer was in Dublin to meet members of the Government and the social partners in preparation for Ireland's forthcoming EU presidency. Mr Santer's proposed employment confidence pact was a key theme in the discussions.
At a press conference in Government Buildings yesterday, Mr Santer said the cuts of up to 40 per cent in EU fishing fleet tonnage within six years, as proposed this week by the Fisheries Commissioner, Ms Emma Bonino, had to be implemented.
"The problem of the sea and of fisheries is a very important one," he said. Restructuring of the fishing fleet was an economic problem and one of environmental protection. The EU had agreed to provide £2.5 billion to modernise the sector, he said.
Asked about the effect of the Common Fisheries Policy in encouraging investment in larger vessels, at the expense of stocks, Mr Santer said there was "some evolution in the markets" of which account had to be taken.
But it was up to EU governments to make the final decision. Ireland will oppose cuts in, the Irish fleet, according to the Minister for Defence and the Marine, Mr Barrett.
The Minister for Employment and Enterprise, Mr Bruton, said the Government and social partners, represented by the employers' organisation, IBEC, and the trade union congress, ICTU, had held "very useful" discussions with Mr Santer. The EU President's proposed employment confidence pact will be debated during the Irish presidency.
Unemployment represented a "dangerous situation" for Europe, given that there was a public "perception" of a link between fulfilment of the Maastricht criteria and unemployment, Mr Santer said. The fight must be fought on "two fronts" - European monetary union and employment - with the social partners.
The EU would maintain ifs policy in the macro economic field. Ireland was a good example to other member states, in fulfilling the Maastricht criteria and also creating jobs, he said. But he acknowledged there was a "crisis of confidence" within the EU.
Ireland's presidency would be a difficult one because of the problems facing the EU, Mr Santer said, following a breakfast meeting with the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, at Iveagh House, Dublin, yesterday morning.
Asked about a lifting of the EU ban on British beef, Mr Santer said he hoped member states would agree to a partial easing at Council level next Monday. The Commission's proposal to lift the restriction on by products, specifically tallow, gelatine and semen, was based on scientific advice. As there was no majority on the veterinary committee as yet, the proposal had been referred to Council, he said.
If supported by member states, this would represent a "first step", he told journalists. The lifting of the ban would have to be progressive - "step by step" - to restore confidence. "Confidence cannot really be restored by decree", he said. "We have to work very hard." This depended on implementation of measures agreed at Council level on Monday and Tuesday.
A lifting of the ban on Northern Irish beef remained a matter for the British government, he added.
Britain's policy of non co operation with the EU was "not very helpful"; the approach would not solve an "objective problem". The problem was not created by the European Commission, but was a British problem and now a European one, he said.
Mr Santer reiterated his concern about the anti European attitude of the British press and his concern at "anti British reaction" within the European continental press.
