Brussels, 28/05/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 28 May, the EU Council of Ministers adopted, without discussion, a decision on the provisional application (with effect from 1 January 2009) of the fisheries partnership agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea. Within the terms of the mandate granted by the Council to the Commission, the EU and the Republic of Guinea negotiated and, on 20 December 2008 initialled, a four-year partnership agreement, to run from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2012 (for details, see EUROPE 9836). Adoption of the regulation on this EU-Guinea fisheries agreement will come at a later date.
The fishing possibilities set out in the protocol are to be shared among member states as follows: - tuna seine netters (15 Spanish vessels, 11 French and 2 Italian); - pole-and-line vessels (8 Spanish and 4 French). The protocol also provides for fishing possibilities for EU shrimp trawlers, if stocks allow it. Financial compensation was set at €450,000 per year for fishing possibilities in the highly migratory species category. A further specific payment (€600,000 the first year, €400,000 the second and €200,000 the following years) will be made to help strengthen the monitoring, control and surveillance system in Guinean fishing zones and so that Guinea can provide itself with a satellite surveillance system by 30 June 2010 at the latest. (L.C./transl.rt)