European Commission
Damanaki

The Hellenic Community of Brussels organises a presentation of Greek wines and grape varieties at the Berlaymont, the headquarters of the European Commission. The event, under the patronnage of the Greek Commissioner Maria Damanaki, is sponsored by the Ministry of Rural Development and Food of Greece. This is part of a series of events for the promotion of Greek gastronomy, to offer to a wider European public a taste of the unique characteristics of Greek food and wines. By organising a popular event at the heart of the European Commission, the Hellenic Community, representing the Greek population in Brussels, aims at reasserting the European feeling and determination of Greeks to overcome the crisis and continue to take part in shaping the future of the EU.

Even if unable to attend personally the event, Commissioner Maria Damanaki welcomed the initiative:

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Colleagues,

It is with great pleasure that I agreed to support with my patronage the event organized today by the Hellenic Community of Brussels. Let me first congratulate the organizers for their initiative. They not only highlight the quality and potential of Greek wine and grapes, but also, at this critical juncture, they bring us a very positive message of hope.

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As part of the celebrations for the European Maritime Day in Gothenburg, the initiative " Message in a bottle " offered to a dozen children the opportunity to ask to Commissioner Maria Damanaki, to the Swedish Environment Minister Lena Ek and to Anneli Hulthén, Mayor of Gothenburg, questions about the sea.

As promised, Commissioner Damanaki answers to "Won't we run out of fish if we catch too many?", "Is it possible to create a protected area for sea animals where they can't be hunted?" and the other questions she received

Won't we run out of fish if we catch too many?

Contrary to what people believed in the past, we now know that fish are a perfectly exhaustible natural resource. This means that there are only so many fish in our oceans. If we continue fishing in an uncontrolled way without giving them the time necessary to reproduce, there will surely come a time when our seas would be deserted.

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Commissioner Maria Damanaki, joined Swedish ministers and other European personalities at the European Maritime Day Conference, in Gothemburg. The theme for this year is: "Sustainable Growth from Oceans, Seas and Coasts: Blue Growth". 'Blue growth' is the economic pillar of the EU's Integrated Maritime Policy which is fully integrated into the Europe 2020 strategy. Its main target is the creation of growth and new jobs in the maritime economy. This target could be achieved through further sustainable development of maritime sectors of the European economy. Europe is the most developed maritime economy in comparison with all other continents. Thus, EU can harvest an important share of the potential of oceans, seas and coasts to the benefit of citizens and society as a whole.

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Representatives of the European Union's employers and trade unions in the sea fisheries sector signed an agreement to ensure that fishermen have decent working conditions on board fishing vessels with regard to minimum requirements for conditions of service, accommodation and food, occupational safety and health protection, medical care, and social security. This agreement implements at EU level the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention on "Work in the fishing sector".

Commissioner Maria Damanaki, who was present at the signing event, said: "This agreement is the key step to legally bind EU Member States to improving the working conditions for fishermen in Europe. It applies, in principle, to all fishing vessels and all fishermen, including multi-national crews. It obliges authorities to monitor whether the rules are complied with, and encourages coordination among relevant authorities. Making fishing safer and more attractive as a profession is one of the goals of the ongoing reform of the Common Fisheries Policy."

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Commissioner Maria Damanaki will be among the hundreds of people reading a part of the Odysseus in the marathon-reading "12 Hours for Greece". "12 Hours for Greece" is an initiative of citizens of various nationalities living in Brussels, acting in their own name, wishing to address a sign of support and solidarity to the Greek people in times of crisis.

The funds gathered at the day will serve to finance a concrete project, Το Χαμόγελο του Παιδιού, The Smile of the Child, an association helping children in difficulty in Athens.

Follow "12 Hours for Greece" live

Where? Halles de Schaerbeek, Brussels
When? From 10:00 to midnight

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The European Commission is ready for the 2012 bluefin tuna fishing campaign. In close collaboration with the Member States concerned, all necessary measures are being taken to ensure that the EU fishing fleet fully respects the rules during the main fishing season. From 16 May to 14 June purse seiners are allowed to fish for bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean and the Eastern Atlantic. Vessels from seven EU member states are active in the bluefin tuna fishery (Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Malta, Cyprus). Together with bluefin tuna fish traps, another important sector in the fishery, they account for 80% of the EU's quota.  The EU's overall quota is 5.756 tonnes for 2012 (the same as in 2011), compared to 7.087 in 2010. 

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