Brussels, 11/07/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 11 July, the EU Council of Ministers adopted without debate the regulation extending by one year, from 16 June 2006 to 15 June 2007, the protocol annexed to the fisheries agreement between the EU and Guinea-Bissau. The extension of the agreement was agreed between the two parties in December 2005, to allow the government of Guinea-Bissau time to prepare for negotiations on a future partnership agreement with the EU (see EUROPE 9186 on the European Commission's initial proposal).
Fishing opportunities granted to EU vessels remain the same as those in force in accordance with the regulation of April 2004 (which amended the fishing opportunities covering the period from 16 June 2001 to 15 June 2006): shrimps - Italy, 1,776 gross register tonnes (GRT); Spain, 1,421 GRT; Portugal, 1,066 GRT and Greece, 137 GRT; fin-fish/cephalopods - Spain, 3,143 GRT; Italy, 786 GRT and Greece 471 GRT; tuna seiners - Spain, 20 vessels; France, 19 vessels and Italy, 1 vessel; surface longliners and pole-and-rod vessels - Spain, 21 vessels, France, 5 vessels and Portugal, 4 vessels. The financial contribution paid by the EU to Guinea-Bissau is €7.260 million for this year.