05/12/2016 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 5 December, the European Parliament's fisheries committee confirmed it's wish – by adopting the report by Linnea Engström (Greens/EFA, Sweden) which largely amends the Commission's initial proposal on EU vessels fishing outside the EU (external fishing fleet) – to extend the authorisation system to include private agreements between EU companies and third countries (see EUROPE 11582). The proposal introduces common eligibility criteria for EU vessels’ authorisations and supports the creation of an EU fishing authorisation register. The NGO Oceana nevertheless says in a press release that it regrets that MEPs have rejected the requirement only to authorise fishing licences for EU vessels with a clean record of compliance with the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The plenary vote in the Parliament will take place in February 2017. EUROPE will return to this. (LC)