Luxemburg, 14/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - In Luxemburg on Monday 14 April, EU Fisheries Ministers adopted a regulation reducing Poland's cod quotas in the Baltic Sea between 2008 and 2011. Last year, Polish fishermen did not close the cod fishery in the Baltic, as the European Commission decreed. In the event, Poland exceeded its cod quota in the eastern Baltic by 8,000 tonnes. Under the terms of the regulation, Poland will pay back 10% of these 8,000 tonnes in 2008, then 30% in each of the following years (2009, 2010 and 2011). The EU is thus demonstrating a certain flexibility in applying its rules on deducting fishing possibilities. Poland must also implement national action plans to improve control systems and to reduce the size of its fishing fleet. In addition, the Commission will assess the implementation of these action plans on a yearly basis and report to the Council on progress made. Poland's 2008 quota for cod in the eastern Baltic was 10,255 tonnes. The penalties mean that the 2008 quota will be reduced by 800 tonnes, and the 2009, 2010 and 2011 quotas by 2,400 tonnes. (L.C.)