Italy and France near tuna accord

By Guy Dinmore

Published: February 13 2010

Italy and France, two of the largest Mediterranean fishing powers, have failed to reach a common agreement on the future of the bluefin tuna, complicating EU efforts to reach a common position ahead of a meeting next month in Doha where Monaco will propose an international trade ban.

Antonio Buonfiglio, Italy’s chief fisheries official, said on Friday that his brief meeting in Paris on Thursday with Bruno Le Maire, French agriculture minister, did not succeed in bridging all differences although they were “90 per cent” in agreement.

One of the main sticking points is Italy’s proposal to stop tuna fishing by purseiners, the main catchers of the prized fish using giant nets to scoop up entire shoals. Italy is proposing that the EU subsidise purseiners to stay in harbour.

Ideologues reshape world over breakfast

Published on FT March 22 2003

Billed as a “black coffee briefing on the war on Iraq”, yesterday’s breakfast for the influential hawks of the American Enterprise Institute was more of a victory celebration.