Brussels, 08/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission, on 3 December, recommended that the Council grant it a mandate to open negotiations on a bilateral fisheries agreement with the Republic of Guinea. On 28 March 1983, the EU and the Republic of Guinea concluded a fisheries agreement on fishing off the Guinean coast, the most recent protocol of which came into force on 26 April 2004 and is due to expire on 31 December 2008.
The Commission proposes to negotiate a new fisheries agreement, more in line with the opportunities and recognised requirements of member states' fleets. Initialling a new protocol before the expiry of the current protocol would allow fishing activities to continue without interruption. According to the draft negotiating instructions, there would be discussions on fisheries control and surveillance, resource management and improving the health and hygiene conditions of fishery products. (L.C./transl.rt)