Plan would open Polish waters to EU fishing vessels

Poland is to grant access to 200 miles of its coastline to European Union (EU) fishing boats on the day of its accession to the Union. In exchange, Polish negotiators hope to establish designated out-of-bounds breeding areas. According to Poland's EU accession negotiators, all of the 15 EU member states, apart from Denmark, have already approved the plan for out-of-bounds areas. The negotiators are now seeking the approval of Denmark, which accounts for more than 20% of all fish caught in EU territory. As in other EU countries, Polish fishermen will have exclusive fishing rights within 12 miles of the coast. The EU also intends to support Polish fishermen with the same subsidies as other EU countries. The EU annually spends approximately euro 500 million for fishing industry subsidies. Poland intends to close the fishing industry chapter of EU negotiations in June of this year. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B2) M.T.K.