Brussels, 28/02/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Union Council of Ministers approved without debate, on Monday, a decision fixing the arrangements for granting financial support to Guinea-Bissau in the fisheries field. A maximum amount of EUR 6.5 million will thus be paid to Guinea-Bissau for a maximum of one year, in order to improve the framework and support of such activities (rehabilitation of equipment and infrastructure, strengthening of maritime surveillance and control systems, enhanced halieutic research programmes). The protocol fixing the fishing possibilities and the financial compensation, for the period 16 June 1997 to 15 June 2001, was concluded between the parties in December 1997 but the armed conflict which broke out between June 1998 and March 1999 brought with it the suspension of fishing activities by European vessels in Guinean waters. This interruption of fishing activity entailed the prorata temporis non-payment of the financial compensation for the second year of its application. The Commission may now pay the balance after acceptance of a detailed report that the government should forward to it before 31 May 2001.
EUROPE recalls that the European Parliament had called for the Guinean authorities to be allowed more time in which to present this report (see EUROPE of 19 January, p.16).