Solomon Islands and EU sign Fisheries Agreement

Solomon Islands Foreign Minister, Patteson Oti has signed the Solomon Islands-European Union Fisheries Partnership Agreement in Brussels, recently.

In a signing ceremony at the European Council Headquarters in Brussels, Minister Oti signed the Fisheries Partnership Agreement, while the Austrian Ambassador to the European Union, signed on behalf of the Presidency of 25 member states of the European Union.

At the signing ceremony, Minister Oti said the idea of a bilateral fisheries Agreement with the EU was first mooted in early 1990s but actual negotiation of an agreement only eventuated three years ago.

Mr Oti says with the signing of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement, he hopes that both parties will mutually benefit from it.

He says Solomon Islands will support any regional efforts for a Multilateral Fisheries Agreement with the EU, but the bilateral Fisheries Partnership Agreement will always remain its option for cooperation.

The Fisheries Partnership Agreement will enter into force once Solomon Islands completes its ratification process and exchanges notes with the European Union.

source: http://www.sibconline.com.sb