Negotiations with the European Union on fishing seem to have hit a difficult point. One hand Warsaw has given up on its demand for a transition period of several years before foreign boats are allowed in Polish waters and on the other it seems as though Brussels wants to bring in more competition.
It is rumoured that the European Commission is about to let loose the Spanish and Portuguese fleets on the innocent fish of the Baltic and North Sea. Every fisherperson is of course equal, but some are more equal than others.
Less equal are the Spanish and Portuguese who have been banned from the Baltic and parts of the North Sea for some years. This ban will end at the end of this year and both countries seem to be sharpening their angling equipment in anticipation of fish to come.
The Baltic and North Sea could be the exciting prize that the Spanish and Portuguese win for behaving themselves and accepting controversial reform in the fishing policies of the EU. They both were ardently opposed to commission proposals to radically reduce fishing fleets, modernisation subsidies and employment in their industry as part of the most far reaching reform proposed for fisheries since the countries joined the union.
The Polish fishing industry does not know which way to turn. It believes that it was sold out by the government which agreed to do away with a transition period without consulting it. Now it turns out that the marauding Iberians are to be sailing into the Baltic in their armadas.
The fishing industry is about to complain to Brussels about the behaviour of its government. They say that the decision to allow the Spanish and Portuguese in only came once Warsaw had dropped the transition plans to have Polish waters protected for five years. They say that in light of the change of circumstances then the transition period is all the more necessary.