Whether it received any prior warning that the European Commission would support the introduction of total allowable catch limits as a mean…

The Commission's proposals for the management of the deep water fishery involved both total allowable catches and licensing (effort control). On 6 June, the Council Secretariat circulated the Spanish Presidency compromise proposal for discussion at the Council on 11 June. This also included both elements. On 10 June, Commissioner Fischler said publicly in London that he would not support the Presidency's compromise. On 11 June, during the Council meeting, the Presidency produced a further compromise proposal containing minor changes. The Commission decided to support this further compromise. The Commissioner did not give us any forewarning, though of course the UK was always aware that Commission support for a compromise solution could enable that solution to be adopted by qualified majority. The UK maintained its opposition because we did not think the changes made the proposal any less unacceptable.