Brussels, 04/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission last week asked the Council to grant it a mandate to negotiate (on behalf of the EU) a fisheries “cooperation framework” with Chile. These relations refer to the fishing of swordfish and other species of common interest in the Southern Pacific Ocean. Since 2001, there has been an interim agreement on catches on swordfish between the two parties. After difficult negotiations, the EU and Chile agreed to authorise four Spanish vessels to land up to 1,000 tonnes of swordfish in three ports (Arica, Iquique and Punta Arenas). Chile and the EU intend to continue to develop their fisheries relations in 2008. The Council must now discuss the mandate to grant the Commission, which hopes to begin talks “as soon as possible”. (L.C.)