CELTIC LEAGUE - PRESS INFORMATION
FRANCE FINED FOR FISHERY LAW BREACH
France was fined £40 million last week by the European Commission for failing to adhere to fishing regulations that makes it illegal for EU member states to catch and market undersized fish. The French government has flouted the rules regarding fishing for what the European Court of Justice say has been two decades. France will be fined again in six months, according to the European Commission, if it does not impose tighter controls governing its fishing industry.
It is expected that the French Government will make an attempt to appeal against the ruling, but this fine is one of many condemnations that have been levied against over the past 20 years. Paris is one of the worst European offenders for not immediately implementing EU directives at state level (followed by Greece and Italy).
Where the environment and culture are concerned, France has been a repeated offender when it come to EU recommendations and rulings. France is in breach of directives on air, ground and water pollution, has fallen behind in imposing safety standards for their biotechnology experiments (for which it is being fined £112,000 a day) and has repeatedly refused to sign the Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities.
(Report collated for Celtic News by Rhisiart Talebot - Kernow Branch)
J B Moffatt
Secretary General
Celtic League
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