25/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - EU-Solomon Islands agreement renewed. On Tuesday 23 November, the European Parliament (EP) approved the text re-instituting the fisheries partnership agreement between the EU and the Solomon Islands for a further three years, from October 2009 to October 2012. This agreement allows four tuna seine netters (three Spanish and one French) to catch up to 4,000 tonnes of tuna per year in the waters of the Solomon Islands. In exchange, the EU will pay €400,000 per year to the country's authorities: - €260,000 for the fishing rights for 4,000 tonnes per year (€65 per tonne); - €140,000 to support and implement the Solomon Islands sectoral fishing policy. The rapporteur on this matter was Maria do Céu Patrão Neves (EPP, Portugal). (L.C./transl.rt)