Brussels, 13/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 12 February, the EU Council of Ministers adopted without debate a decision on the new fisheries partnership agreement between the EU and Ivory Coast (see EUROPE 9535). The agreement would last for six years from July 2007 and allow 25 purse seiners (15 from Spain and 10 from France) and 15 longliners (15 Portuguese and 10 Spanish) to catch up to 7,000 tonnes of tuna a year. In return, the EU will pay the Ivory Coast authorities €550,000 a year (€455,000 for the 7000 tonnes of fish and €140,000 to support the Ivory Coast fishing industry). Under the agreement, the payment must be made by 30 March 2008. (L.C.)