The fish auctions of Europe and their essential role had been completely overlooked at the time of the COM reform (e.g. the E Bonino enquiry) as was evidenced by the ill conceived.
proposed article12 of COM supporting, with fiscal aid, the by-passing of free and open sales - this was regarded as dangerous for the future of the auctions and free competition.
auctions were neither consulted, considered nor heard by the Commission.
Coincidentally a number of auction had, that April, gathered to informally discuss the economic climate and what common objectives and difficulties existed in their sector of the industry. Not surprisingly the information that their very function in creating a free market was being threatened acted as a spur and led directly to the early formation of EAFPA. The immediate aim being to make measured and cogent arguments to the EC on how to achieve real market benefits without redress to price distortion through the proposed selective grant scheme - which would benefit neither fishermen nor consumers. Thus, in 1999 EAFPA was formed and:
by banding together in EAFPA and, through this collective body actively lobbying the EC supported by real data and logical argument the organisation directly affected events.
article 12 was abandoned and auctions, through EAFPA, now have a voice in Brussels.
With the initial objective met EAFPA has continued to develop its role in Europe and been pursuing its broader objective as a Trade Organisation as both a conduit for information and dialogue between the EC and its members.