28/09/2008
A fisheries agreement between the EU and Mauritania could be terminated if the EU does not respond in the next three weeks to a non-payment notice sent by Mauritania. The European Commission suspended the payment to Mauritania following the August 6th overthrow of President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdellahi. According to the contract, the EU has thirty days to transfer funds after Mauritania's non-payment notice to Brussels. Otherwise Nouakchott may terminate the agreement. Reuters quoted European Commissioner for Fisheries Joe Borg as saying on Friday (September 26th), "We will use our time to ensure that the terms of the contract concerning the use of the money we give to Mauritania is respected." The deadline is October 15th.