Faroe fights back

THE FAROESE government has gone to the World Trade Organisation to challenge the European Union’s decision to impose trade sanctions in the dispute over Atlanto Scandia herring.

In August the EU imposed restrictions on Faroese vessels entering their ports in response to the huge increase in the island state’s herring quota.

On Monday the office of Faroe’s prime minister Kaj Leo Holm Johannesen issued a statement saying: “The measures implemented by the EU are in clear contravention of basic provisions of the WTO agreement.

“Contrary to claims by the EU that the measures are a means to conserve the Atlanto-Scandian herring, the coercive measures implemented by the EU against the Faroe Islands appear designed to protect EU industry interests.”