How Irish EU strategy turned the tide on Spanish fishermen

FISH COUNCILS — where EU marine ministers meet — are a by-word for long, complicated negotiations that never seem to end. And that exactly was the way it was looking in Luxembourg on Monday when the Irish Box deal was up for discussion.

But then, just before lunch time, a compromise document was produced by Commissioner Franz Fischler and all sides adjourned to consider their next step. And then just after lunch the Fisheries Commissioner convinced the Italian minister, who was chairing the meeting, to call a vote.

By then the French had been placated and so too had the Portuguese. The Irish fishermen, in force outside where the meeting was taking place, had their final demands down to two.