Brussels, 24/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 24 February, the EU Council of Ministers adopted texts which will allow implementation of the new fisheries partnership agreement between the EU and the Democratic Republic of São Tomé e Príncipe. The three-year agreement allows 28 tuna seiners (16 Spanish and 12 French) and 12 surface longliners from the EU to fish for tuna in the waters of that country.
The financial compensation from the EU is €682,500 per year: - an annual payment for access to São Tomé e Príncipe waters of €455,000, equivalent to a reference tonnage of 7,000 tonnes per year; - a specific sum of €227,500 per year to support application of the São Tomé e Príncipe fisheries policy.
The current protocol came into force on 1 June 2006 and expired on 31 May 2010. The Council adopted a decision which allowed provisional application of the new agreement. (L.C./transl.rt)