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		Hands off our lakes and rivers, says Euro MP Thursday, 26 February 2004 The threatened extension of the Common Fisheries Policy to cover the UK's lakes, lochs and rivers could theoretically mean Brussels bureaucrats taking over control of fishing on Rutland Water says East Midlands Conservative MEP Roger Helmer. A major conference taking place in Poland next Monday will be exploring the possibilities of extending the Common Fisheries Policy to cover inland lakes and rivers. The conference has been organised by the Poles too highlight the plight of inland and freshwater fisheries throughout the ten accession countries that are about to join the EU. A report published by the The World Conservation Union (IUCN) states that total freshwater fish catches in Eastern European countries fell by over 27% between 1990 and 2000. Under the Treaty of Rome, the competence of the Council of Ministers is not restricted solely to Community maritime waters and could readily be extended to inland waters. So such a move could be implemented without a change in the Treaties. Speaking out against such an extension of the CFP, East Midlands MEP Roger Helmer, said: "The idea that the Commission has the right to control commercial fishing on Rutland Water is surreal. Clearly the ten accession countries are looking for financial help when they join the EU on 1st May and appear to think that the solution may lie with the extension of the CFP to cover all lakes, lochs and rivers throughout the EU. The next thing we know there will be a fishing effort limitation scheme imposed on Lake Windermere and Loch Ness and quotas applied to the Dee, the Tay and the Tyne. We clearly cannot countenance such an extension of Brussels power and I will oppose any moves to do so. This shows why it is impossible to satirise the EU. Things that actually happen in Brussels are far more ludicrous and surreal than anything you could make up".