European Commissioner for Fisheries & Maritime Affairs

European Commissioner for Fisheries & Maritime Affairs is a member of the European Commission. The current Commissioner is Joe Borg (EPP-ED)

The portfolio is responsible for policies such as the Common Fisheries Policy, which is largely a competence of the European Union rather than the members. The Union has 150,000 km of coastline and the largest Exclusive Economic Zone in the world, covering 25 million km². [ [http://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/outermost_regions_en.htm EU Glossary] europa.eu]

Current commissioner

Commissioner Borg was approved by the European Parliament in 2004 and is due to serve until 2009. He has outlined his two main priorities as "setting the European Union on the path towards a European Maritime Policy" and "securing the ecological, economic and society|social sustainability of the European fishing and aquaculture industry" [ [http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/borg/priorities_en.htm Priorities] ec.europa.eu] .

On 7 June 2006 the European Commission published a green paper for a Maritime Policy and consultation will end in June 2007 [ [http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/policy_en.html Consultation on Maritime Policy] ec.europa.eu] . The document addresses a number of issues such as sustainable development, protection of the environment, skills and employment, technology and resources, coastal safety and tourism, financial support and heritage. [ [http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/pdf/com_2006_0275_en_part2.pdf Green paper] ec.europa.eu]

The Commission came under fire in May 2007 for not penalise French fishermen after over-fishing the threatened bluefin tuna by 65% while backing penalties on Irish fishermen for over-fishing mackerel. [ [http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0502/fishing.html?rss Fishermen citicise EU over-fishing decision] rte.it]

List of commissioners

*Franz Fischler (of Austria) - Prodi Commission (1999-2004)
*Sandra Kalniete (of Latvia) - Prodi Commission (2004)
*Joe Borg (of Malta) - Barroso Commission (2004-2009)

ee also

* Directorate-General for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs
* Common Fisheries Policy

External links

* [http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/borg/index_en.htm Commissioner's Website]
* [http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/index_en.htm Commission Fisheries Website]
* [http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/index_en.html Commission Martime Website]

References