From: sasealion@wam.co.za
Date: December 9, 2006 4:12:59 PM

and now some more good news .....


Green Party MEP UK, Caroline Lucas reports back from her meeting with the EU Commissioners.
Could we please send her a thank you (caroline.lucas@europarl.europa.eu).

Commissioner Kyprianou also responded officially.


From: LUCAS Caroline
Sent: Monday, December 04, 2006 6:12 PM


Subject: Reply to your fax regarding Dr Lucas's meeting



Dear Mr Hugo and Ms Botha,

I am writing in reply to your fax dated 21 November 2006, and to update you on the outcome of the meeting between myself and Commissioner Dimas on the 8th November.
 
During the meeting it transpired that in principle there is no problem in extending the EU ban to include Cape Fur seals. However, the real problem, not just relating to Cape Fur seals, but the seal hunting ban as a whole, is that the Commission believes it will be difficult to get any legislation passed as there is uncertainty over the legal basis for a ban.
Commissioner Dimas is well aware of the issue surrounding the inclusion of Cape Fur Seals in the ban, and is sympathetic to our cause.
Our efforts must now be concentrated on ensuring the Commission finds a legitimate legal base.
I met again with Commissioner Dimas on November 30th and he assured me he was doing his best to achieve this.
 
We are still awaiting a date for the meeting with Commissioner Kyprianou.
 

Best wishes,
 
Caroline Lucas MEP