Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on October 29 welcomed a delegation from the European Parliament (EP)’s Committee on Fisheries led by Gabriel Mato, MEP and committee spokesperson.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) welcomes MEP Gabriel Mato

Stressing that Vietnam has always and will continue to considers the relationship between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the EP as an important pillar in the Vietnam-EU comprehensive cooperation, PM Phuc expressed his belief that the delegation’s visit will help foster bilateral ties.

Gabriel Mato said the visit aims to learn about Vietnam’s recent efforts to control illegal fishing and to share EU experience in this work with the country, as well as affirming that the EU is willing to cooperate with all countries in this field.

On behalf of the delegation, he spoke highly of the country’s efforts to fight illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, including promulgating and implementing numerous important legal regulations.

He expressed his belief that the delegation’s activities in Vietnam will produce positive outcomes and serve as the foundation to propose that the early removal of the European Commission’s “yellow card” warning on Vietnamese seafood, thus helping promote EU collaboration with the Southeast Asian nation.

The Vietnamese leader said that his country considers the EC’s “yellow card” warning an opportunity to boost the fisheries sector’s sustainable and responsible development.

He told the visiting guests that Vietnam is implementing many measures synchronously to address the warning in an effective and suitable manner. The country promulgated the Law on Fisheries on November 21, 2017, has made various sub-law documents, implemented a national action programme on IUU fishing combat, and intensified the dissemination on legal regulations to fishermen.

He asked the delegation to help push for the EC’s removal of its warning label, and affirmed that the Government will create all favourable conditions for the delegation.

Mentioning the freshly-signed Vietnam-EU Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade Voluntary Partnership Agreement (FLEGT-VPA), PM Phuc urged the EP to soon ratify the agreement in order to facilitate the export of Vietnam’s timber and wood products to the EU, thus bringing bigger interest in economics and environmental protection for both sides.

He welcomed the EP’s recent statements and resolutions on the East Sea issue and maritime security, requesting the EP to continue backing the settlement of disputes in the East Sea by peaceful means on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. 

Delegation members underlined their back for trade liberalisation and hoped for the early signing of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). –VNA