Brussels, 07/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 3 June, the EU Council of Ministers adopted, without debate, a decision allowing provisional application of the fisheries partnership agreement between the EU and the Solomon Islands. A new fisheries partnership agreement between the two parties was initialled on 26 September 2009. In order to ensure that EU vessels are able to continue their fishing activities, it is essential that this new partnership agreement is applied as quickly as possible. The EU and the Solomon Islands, therefore, initialled an agreement in the form of an exchange of letters relating to the provisional application of the fisheries agreement with effect from 9 October 2009, while awaiting the coming into effect of the agreement.
The Council also adopted a regulation setting the method for allocating the fishing opportunities among member states for the duration of the new fisheries partnership agreement and also for the period of its provisional application: freezer tuna seiners - Spain, 75% of fishing opportunities available, France, 25%. (L.C./transl.rt)