ROBERTSON SUPPORTS CALLS FOR EU REFERENDUM TO PROTECT FISHERIES
Posted on Wednesday, October 31 2007
Moray SNP MP Angus Robertson has promised to support a referendum on the European Union Reform treaty following the UK Government's reluctance to seek changes to the Treaty text in relation to control over fisheries. The SNP MP has expressed his and the SNP's long-held concerns about the effectiveness of the Common Fisheries Policy and the huge negative impact the policy continues to have on Scotland's fishing industry. The government has been severely criticised for failing to put the issues raised in the recent EU treaty negotiaions to a public vote through a referendum. The Scottish National Party has disagreed fundamentally with the position of the UK Government on fisheries management saying that the London Government uses the predominantly Scottish based industry as merely a bargaining chip. Commenting Moray MP Angus Robertson said: " Moray and the wider are of the North East of Scotland has been hit particularly badly over the years by the UK Government's insistence that we remain in the CFP. The SNP has long called for local control of fisheries and that is why we are demanding a referendum of the recently negotiated treaty. "In the absence of any movement from the UK Government concerning the entrenching of "Exclusive Competence" under the Common Fisheries Policy, the SNP want to give the people their say on the issue. "The SNP has previously supported a referendum on Europe and we trust the judgement of the people of Scotland to make a decision on the current treaty. "While Gordon Brown continues to show his distrust of the voting public, we will support a referendum. We are honour bound." "Fishing communities need a commitment from the government to support their major industry and the SNP government in Scotland will provide that support and continue to demand that the Labour Government in London does the same." ENDS.
|