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EU fisheries talks
11/06/2007
Speaking in Luxembourg after attending his first European Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting, Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, said:
"It was a privilege to be the first Cabinet Secretary in the new Scottish Government to attend an EU council.
"It was very valuable to experience at first hand the process which determineS the future of Scotland's fishing communities and to receive a warm welcome from Commissioner Borg and other fisheries ministers.
"It was also instructive to observe the way the UK Government handles the current arrangements.
"I had constructive meetings with DEFRA Secretary of State David Miliband and Fisheries Minister Ben Bradshaw. We agreed to begin discussions on how we can work more effectively together.
"While this was a relatively low key Council meeting, I ensured that key Scottish concerns were reflected in the UK position.
"Watching 27 countries, some landlocked, debating fishing policy underlined the importance of giving the historic fishing nation of Scotland a much greater say on the future of our fishing communities."