Brussels, 27/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - As announced, the European Commission decided on Wednesday 27 June to bring France before the European Court of Justice on the grounds that the country has done nothing so far to put an end to fishing with a “thonaille” net (EUROPE 9455). This net is used by 80 French vessels to catch bluefin tuna and swordfish in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The Commission takes the view that these nets constitute drift nets, which have been banned since January 2002 by Community legislation. Having sent a reasoned opinion to the French government in July 2005 (which has remained without response), the Commission has sent inspectors to carry out examinations on site, which noted that France tolerate this fishing practice, even though it is against the law. With this in mind, the Commission states that it brought the matter before the Court of Justice last March, in order to bring an end to the use of drift nets by Italian fishermen. (lc)