European fishermen take protest to Brussels

Angry fishermen take their protest over soaring fuel costs to Brussels on Wednesday where several thousand are set to picket the European Parliament, fisheries representatives in four countries said.
Several thousand fishermen from Portugal, Italy, Spain and France were on their way to the Belgian capital to take part in the protest, Ange Natoli, a spokesman for Marseille's fishing fleet in southern France, told AFP on Tuesday.

Another fishermans' representative in Port-la-Nouvelle in southern France, Bernard Perez, said between 5,000 and 8,000 people were expected to participate.

Spanish fishermen had reached the Port-la-Nouvelle early Tuesday to join their French counterparts aboard coaches bound for Brussels, Perez said.

In Spain, home of Europe's largest national fishing fleet, the main fisheries confederation decided to maintain its indefinite strike launched Friday, and called for urgent talks with Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

The head of the Spanish Fisheries Confederation (Cepesca), Javier Garat, warned that within two weeks "the vast majority of Spanish ports would be on strike."

Fishermen in Portugal said Tuesday they would extend their strike for at least another day, after meeting with Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Jaime Silva.

Portuguese fishermen's unions and associations will meet on Wednesday afternoon to "analyse a group of measures proposed by the government and decide the movement's next steps," said Miguel Cunha, president of the union of industrial fishing shipowners.

These measures include a proposal by Silva to release a loan of 40 million euros (60 million dollars) for the sector, as well as halving port taxes on fisherman from four to two percent.

Fishermen went on strike in Spain, Portugal and Italy on Friday following more than two weeks of stoppages and blockades in France.

Representatives from Spain, France, Italy and Portugal are to meet in Madrid this week to discuss a proposal for a European Union fund to help the fishermen hardest hit by the price rises.

The rapid rise in the price of oil has pushed up the cost of marine diesel by around 30 percent since the beginning of the year, causing trawler owners to warn they face bankruptcy without increased subsidies.

Hundreds of British fishermen also protested in London on Tuesday against the high diesel prices which they say threatens to drive them out of business.

In France, truckers and taxi drivers caused traffic chaos for commuters when they staged a fuel protest go-slow on the Paris ring road and a major motorway west of the capital.

Farmers and truckers also blockaded oil depots near Marseille in the south and at Marmande in the southwest.

Along the English Channel, farmers blockaded 16 Total petrol stations.