15/05/2024 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 14 May, the European Commission drew up a non-paper on the arrangements for implementing the 2021-2026 protocol to the fisheries agreement between the EU and Mauritania. The Commission is proposing a small change to this protocol, to be decided by the ‘EU/Mauritania Joint Committee’ provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the parties (see EUROPE 12967/12). The proposal from the Commission is to grant the EU fleet a derogation from the compulsory landing rule (end of discards) for fish when there is a significant delay in landing or extended waiting times for landing or transshipment of species. The EU Council working group will assess the proposal on Thursday 16 May. It must be approved by the Commission on behalf of the EU within the EU/Mauritania Joint Committee. (LC)