Brussels, 22/10/2004 (Agence Europe) - The Council of Ministers of Member States of the European Union adopted without debate on Thursday a decision authorising the Commission to open negotiations with the government of the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya for the conclusion of a Fisheries Partnership Agreement. On 2 October this year, the Council's working group responsible for fishery issues gave its approval to the technical aspects of the text of the proposal. The Commission adopted the proposal in July 2003.