Problems In Spain Starting The European Fishery Control Agency ff

The European Fishery Control Agency will commence its activities from the city of  Brussels, Belgium instead of Vigo, Spain as initially planned.

The Council of the European Union (EU) assigned the European Fishery Control Agency to Spain at the end of 2003. The regulation for the creation of the office did not take effect until June 2005. The EU regulations regarding the foundation of the agency indicates that this organ should be operational within one year after the ruling came into effect, therefore June 2006. The Spanish central government had determined to set up headquarters in Vigo.

However, the European Commission (EC) decided this change of locations after confirming that the building -where the European Fishery Control Agency was originally to start operating as of next June- does not comply with the requirements. According to the EU Fishery Commissioner, Joe Borg, “the offices put at the agency's disposal by the Spanish authorities in Vigo do not yet meet the needed conditions to hire on personnel." He also indicated that there are still 36 job vacancies, which he estimates will be covered before 2007.

The European Fishery Control Agency will monitor the enforcement of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), help research and develop control techniques, support the training of inspectors and promote coordination of operations aiming at the fight against unreported, illegal, and unregulated fishery. The agency is expected to be fully operational in 2007.