Strasbourg, 11/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament has approved, with some amendments, the proposal on the new partnership agreement in the fisheries sector between the EU and Guinea-Bissau. The agreement (initialled on 23 May), which is to last four years (from 16 June 2007 to 15 June 2011), provides fishing opportunities for Community vessels: - 19 tuna seiners, 14 pole-and-line vessels and 4 surface longliners, as well as shrimp trawlers and fin-fish/cephalopod trawlers with a total tonnage of 4,400 GRT per year for each category. At the request of the Community, however, exploratory fishing trips may be carried out under the agreement. If these are conclusive, the parties may decide to award new fishing opportunities to Community vessels. The financial contribution is fixed at €7 million per year (i.e. €28 million in total over the four years). An additional specific contribution of €500,000 per year (€2 million over the four-year period) will also be targeted at improving the health and hygiene conditions of fishery products. (L.C.)