EU OFFICIAL REPLIES TO SLOVENIA'S INQUIRY ABOUT ECONOMIC ZONE

LJUBLJANA, Aug 29 (Hina) - EU Agriculture and Fisheries Commissioner Franz Fischler has replied to a question Slovenia's foreign and agriculture ministers, Dimitrij Rupel and Franci But, posed two weeks ago with regard to Croatia's plans to proclaim an exclusive economic zone in the Adriatic, the Slovene foreign ministry said in a statement Friday. #L# Fischler said in his reply that the European Commission had drawn up an action plan for the sustainable use of the Mediterranean fish fund, which provides for a harmonised policy regarding jurisdiction over waters, the ministry said. According to the ministry, the European Commission wants protected fishing zones to be established, but at the same time, it excludes the possibility of a discussion on the concept of an economic zone, as this subject is largely outside the implementation plan of EU's joint fishing policy. Fischler says in his letter that the EU Council of Ministers is aware of its role in harmonising jurisdiction over waters, and is therefore in support of organising a conference on fishing in the Mediterranean in Venice on November 25 and 26. Preparations for the conference clearly indicate that the EU opposes any unilateral steps in this field, as EU member states in Athens in June endorsed the adoption of a joint and gradual approach with regard to protected fishing zones, the ministry said in its statement. (hina) lml