BRUSSELS, Jan 15 (Reuter) - The Italian Presidency rejected on Monday reports that Fisheries Commissioner Emma Bonino will have to take the initiative as Italy had showed little interest in fisheries in the past and was weakened by political crisis. Italy is working closely with the Commission to solve Mediterranean issues and will provide an objective approach in dealing with international questions because it is not directly involved, Italian spokesman Raffaelle de Lutio told Reuters. The presidency said in a six-month working programme that it has suggested socio-economic and structural themes as well as including all the Commission's dossiers.

The Presidency listed the following priorities:

- Measures to promote the rational use of fish resources. But Italy said that multiannual guidance programmes and stricter management measures had hit fishing jobs and profits. It said it will launch a political debate aimed at better use of current

regulations and funds to convert to other economic activities

and to introduce socio-economic aid measures. Italy also plans to relaunch a debate on a series of specific measures such as a proposal to set management strategies for some fish species and list those that need to be included in vessels' log books.

- Italy will also stress the importance of quality in order to meet new market requirements, safeguard consumers and compete with non-EU countries. New fish processing techniques for some species of fatty fish will also be considered.

- Italy will study in great detail the safeguarding of fish in the Mediterranean taking account of the Crete and Barcelona conferences and significant developments in international maritime law.

It says it will pay special attention to fisheries agreements with non-EU countries and the Commission's negotiations on the Code of Conduct on Responsible Fishing and the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation committee on Mediterranean fishing.