Press Release: Commission proposes adoption of bilateral fisheries agreement with Russia for the Baltic Sea

On 22 December 2006 the European Commission tabled a proposal for a Council Regulation adopting the new bilateral agreement between the European Union and the Russian Federation on co-operation in fisheries and the conservation of the living marine resources in the Baltic Sea. This new agreement, which covers an initial period of six years, sets out provisions on joint management measures for Baltic Sea fisheries. A new framework became necessary as, following the 2004 EU enlargement, the membership of the International Baltic Sea Fisheries Commission was reduced to two Contracting Parties: the EU and Russia. The new agreement was initialled in August 2006 and will enter into force upon signature by the Parties.