15/12/2020 (Agence Europe) – The European Parliament approved (570 votes in favour, 38 against and 87 abstentions), on Tuesday 15 December, the conclusion of an arrangement allowing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the EU and Mauritania (see EUROPE 12570/20) to be extended until mid-November 2021. This agreement provides significant fishing opportunities for the European fleet, targeting demersal and pelagic species as well as tuna and highly migratory species. At present, this is the most important mixed fisheries agreement with a non-Member State. It authorises the fishing activities of a maximum of 58 vessels from Spain, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland and France. The European Parliament also approved (639 votes in favour, 29 against and 27 abstentions) the extension for one year of the EU/Cook Islands fisheries agreement (see EUROPE 12584/32) (LC)