MEPs backed the renewal of a fisheries protocol which expired on 31 December.  The new arrangements redefine fishing opportunities for EU vessels such as increasing from 57 to 70 vessels; 45 of those will be for tuna seiners and 25 surface longliners from France, Italy, Portugal and Spain.

The EU will provide funding of 300 000 Euros annually, primarily to build or extend existing infrastructure to enable EU vessels to land their catches in Comorian ports rather than transporting them as far as to Seychelles. Furthermore, the annual reference tonnage will be 4 850 tonnes per year.

The new protocol includes human rights clauses, following Parliament's insistence that such clauses be included in all fisheries agreements after the Lisbon Treaty entered into force.

Adopted measures linked to fisheries

MEPs approved a regulation extending existing transitional technical measures with regard to conservation of fishery resources until  2013. By then the Commission is expected to present its proposal for a new permanent regulation. Parliament also backed changes to a regulation on financial measures for the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy designed to ensure its coherence with other relevant legislation.