"The Nordic Council has issued a statement about the objectives we believe should be the focus of the EU review of EU fisheries policy", says Helgi Hjörvar, who took part in the West Nordic Council's theme conference on fisheries in Sauðárkrókur in Iceland on Tuesday 8 June.

It is important for the Nordic Council to attempt to influence the reform of the EU fisheries strategy such that it will contribute to a more sustainable management of resources in the future. The EU has itself admitted that the current fisheries strategy has not been a success, and the Nordic countries have long sought to influence the reform.

"Sustainable management of natural resources are one of the most important tasks facing the world", says Hjörvar, a member of the Icelandic Althing.

Josef Motzfeldt, chair of the West Nordic Council and party leader of Greenland's Inatsisartut party, said at the theme conference in Sauðárkrókur that he hopes the West Nordic Council can act as a unit with regard to the EU fisheries policy.

Motzfeldt said that he hopes the three West Nordic countries will get similar fishery management systems over time.

However, he stressed at the same time that small steps also count when it comes to standing together for the interests of the West Nordic countries with regard to fishery resources.

The conference discussed the advantages and disadvantages of the different fishery management systems in Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Norway.

Sweden's Kent Olsson represented the Nordic Council as an observer at the West Nordic theme conference.

Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Iceland are part of the West Nordic Council.

Silje Bergum Kinsten
Phone +45 33 96 02 51
Email siki@norden.org