EU to back Irish fishermen with funds in face of Russian import ban

The European Commission stands ready to support its fisheries sector in the light of Russia’s import trade ban on certain products.

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki gave the pledge in a letter to Italian Minister Maurizio Martina and the chair of the European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee, Alain Cadec.

Commissioner Damanaki outlined that the EU can provide financial support to the sector as well as the possibility of shifting unused fishing quotas to 2015.