Parliament looks at the 2012 Sakharov Prize candidates, ministers still disagree over conserving fish stocks and MEPs condemn the 'undemocratic' election in Belarus.

Sakharov Prize / Fisheries reform / Belarus election

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/16081890/n001-120925-002-en_mf.srt

MEPs considered the nominations  for this year's Sakharov Prize,

awarded annually by the EP to a person  or group who have stood up to oppression.

Candidates include a jailed lawyer who  represented opposition activists in Iran

and the jailed Pussy Riot protestors  against Vladimir Putin.

The prize is worth winning,  says a previous laureate.

I don't think the world would have become  as aware of the Burmese situation as it did

if it had not been for the Sakharov Prize  and of course the Nobel Prize.

EU fisheries ministers meet as plans  to reform the Common Fisheries Policy

still fail to find agreement,  especially on conserving certain stocks.

They've been discussing  a proposed €6.5 billion fund

to help fishermen and their communities  adjust to sustainable fishing,

although there are fears it's taking too long.

If we stray over into 2014  we have no legal basis

for a new reformed  Common Fisheries Policy

or the European Maritime  Fisheries Fund

and the whole thing – three, four  years of work – would be into the bin.

The other unresolved concern  is how to reduce catches of juvenile fish,

We must minimise  the quantities of discards

and then we must incentivise  the fishermen to avoid them

because if we take all the discards ashore  then it solves the problem

but it leaves no fish in the water  for the future.

There's been condemnation  of elections in Belarus,

boycotted by some opposition parties and  with some opponents and journalists in jail.

Election means  there is a pluralistic democracy

with the participation of political parties

allowed to campaign freely  and with access to the mass media.

The election has done nothing to improve  the reputation of President Lukashenko.