Brussels, 29/01/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 29 January, the EU and Mauritania agreed to revise the current 'Fisheries Protocol' under the EU/Mauritania Fisheries Partnership Agreement (see EUROPE 9585). The Fisheries Protocol was signed between the European Commission, represented by Fokion Fotiadis, Director General for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, and Mauritania's Minister for Fisheries, Assane Soumare. This opens the way for technical meetings, which should start in the near future, to agree on a review of the present arrangements 'to conclude a new Protocol, which is better adapted to the profile of the EU fleet fishing in Mauritanian waters and that better addresses Mauritania's needs with regard to the development of its national fisheries sector,' explains the Commission in a press release. In December2007, the Commission tabled a proposal to review the current Protocol as fishing possibilities are currently not fully used by EU ship owners. The Commission's 'objective is to ensure that its rules on sound financial management are fully respected without jeopardising the flow of related financial support that Mauritania receives'. (L.C.)