Brussels, 22/01/2008 (Agence Europe) - Fisheries ministers of EU member states have given their cautious support to the European Commission's approach consisting of revising the current protocol to the fisheries agreement between the EU and Mauritania.
In practical terms, the joint commission between the EU and Mauritania (established within the framework of the fisheries partnership agreement) should be used to negotiate better use of fishing possibilities. Financial compensation paid by the EU to Mauritania (€86 million) should not be reviewed downward but perhaps distributed differently. Initially, the European Commission had called for a Council mandate to “denounce the protocol” and to negotiate a new one (EUROPE 9581). The Commission is “cautiously optimistic” about the chances of reaching a compromise with the Mauritanian side on review of this protocol.
Michel Barnier, French Fisheries Minister, explained that the “Commission's initial proposals had given rise to considerable opposition among many EU member states as well as at the European Parliament”. He welcomed the fact that, at the request of the member states, the Commission was now in a different frame of mind more in keeping with Mauritania's difficult economic and political situation. The Commission is expected to find a solution so that no fundamental reservations are raised regarding the agreement, the French minister said.
The aim of Spain is to “keep the licenses” granted to the country's fishing vessels, i.e. 120 out of a total of 200, the Spanish minister for agriculture and fisheries, Elena Espinosa, said. (L.C.)