Fishermen protest exclusion from EU negotiation process

Groups representing fishermen are preparing a letter to the European Commission complaining that the Polish government has ignored their demands in negotiating regulation changes with the European Union (EU). In their view, the decision to withdraw a motion for a transition period for EU fishing in Polish waters is a betrayal. "The government declared that its change of heart followed consultations with the fishing sector. There were talks, indeed, but the agreement we had reached was entirely different from what was later presented in Brussels," said Ryszard Klimczak, deputy president of the Fishing Boats Owners Association. "Some statements made by fishermen are pure propaganda," replied deputy Agriculture Minister Jerzy Pilarczyk, who argued that sector representatives had agreed that further limitation of access for EU fishing boats to Polish waters was unnecessary. (Puls Biznesu, pp. 1, 4) M.K.