Spain loses fish as Norway rejects EU

MADRID, Nov. 29 -- Spanish Foreign Minister Javier Solana on Tuesday expressed his government's sadness at Norway's rejection of membership in the European Union.

'I regret it deeply,' he said. 'Norway is a very solid economy and a very solid democracy.' Spanish fishermen will suffer as a result of the Norwegians' referendum vote against the European Union. In negotiations over the terms of Norway's admission, Spain had won the right to fish 7,000 tonnes of cod from the Scandinavian country's waters. Now those 7,000 tonnes cannot be fished. Fishermen were one of the principal groups which campaigned against Norway becoming the 15th member of the EU.