France seeks EU permission to help fishermen
Tuesday 20 May 2008
As fishing boats blockade French ports, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Michel Barnier is hoping to secure a green light from Brussels on Tuesday to compensate fishermen for soaring diesel prices. (Report: France 2)
Tuesday 20 May 2008
By ReutersFishermen resumed their blockade of roads leading out of the country's largest oil port, Fos-Lavera near Marseille, union sources said. Port workers at Fos-Lavera were also on strike over a separate issue, the government's plan to reform ports.
Oil industry sources said five oil tankers were blocked from loading or unloading due to the strike.
"The tools I have prepared to help the fishermen must be approved by
The government had announced a three-year aid package for fishermen worth 310 million euros ($483 million) in January and Barnier suggested the handouts should be accelerated to help fishermen cope with the dramatic increase in fuel prices.
"I'm expecting an authorisation from
Barnier is due to meet on Wednesday with fishermen who are demanding help to cushion the effects of rising marine diesel fuel prices, driven higher by record oil prices of more than $125 a barrel.
News reports on radio stations suggested about 20 ports were again hit by fishermen's protests on Tuesday morning.
They started blockading three ports on the Atlantic coast last week and the protests spread to several other ports on the
Oil giant Total said its refineries were operating normally because they were well-supplied and the disruptions at Fos-Lavera were sporadic.
"The strikes and blockade have not affected our operations for the moment," a spokesman said.
Images
Fishermen protesting at rising oil prices have blocked several French ports.
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21/05/2008 17:47:50 Alert a moderator
Sick of this type of behaviour
By Anonyme -
It's a complete infringement of EU rules on state aid and should be refused immediately. What's more, every time there is a strike that hits the French ports it blocks the UK's trade with the rest of the EU. Totally unacceptable. There should be immediate retaliation against French logistics companies for this blockade and particularly heavy "inspection regimes" implemented against any French fishermen who come into our territorial waters. We are sick and tired of this kind of behaviour and have been far too understanding of it in the past.