The Irish owners of 20 fishing vessels have won their court case against the European Commission over its refusal to allow them to increase the size of their boats.
The ruling by the European Court of First Instance could allow owners to claim tens of millions of euro in compensation from the State.
It could also spark other legal appeals against the commission's refusal to allow 80 vessels from Ireland Belgium, Ireland, Sweden, Britain and the Netherlands to increase the size of their vessels in a controversial decision taken in April 2003.
The legal case was taken by fishing boat owners from Donegal, Cork and Galway. They applied to the commission to increase the tonnage of their trawlers to enhance their safety, hygiene and working conditions under an EU programme.
The Commission ruled in 2003 that Irish vessels could not avail of the scheme.