PURPOSE: to approve the Amendment to the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in Northwest Atlantic Fisheries.
PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.
BACKGROUND: the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries (the Convention), was signed in Ottawa on 24 October 1978 and entered into force on 1 January 1979. The European Economic Community acceded to the Convention on 28 December 1978 through Council Regulation (EEC) No 3179/78. The Convention established the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO), a Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (RFMO), with the aim of promoting the conservation and optimum utilisation of fisheries resources of the Northwest Atlantic within a framework appropriate to the regime of extended Coastal State jurisdiction over fisheries, and accordingly of encouraging international co-operation and consultations with respect to resources.
The Contracting Parties to the Convention adopted the "Amendment to the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries" (the Amendment) at the Annual Meetings of NAFO in 2007 (English version) and in 2008 (French version). In the light of the fishing possibilities accruing to the EU under the Convention, it is in the EU's interest to approve the proposed Amendment to the Convention, while Council Regulation (EEC) No 3179/78 concerning the conclusion by the EEC of the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries will remain in force for the provisions of the Convention that are maintained unchanged.
LEGAL BASE: Article 43(2), in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU.
CONTENT: this proposal concerns the approval of the Amendment to the Convention on behalf of the European Union.
The Amendment revises the Convention comprehensively with the primary purpose of making it more in line with other regional Conventions and international instruments and of incorporating modern concepts on fisheries management. The Amendment thus streamlines the structure of the organisation, introduces clear definitions of the responsibilities of Contracting Parties, Flag States and Port States, provides for a more coherent decision making process and modernises the contribution formula for the NAFO budget.
Lastly, the Amendment provides for a dispute settlement mechanism in case disputes arise between Contracting Parties.
The Council is requested to adopt this proposal as soon as possible following the consent of the European Parliament.
BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: this proposal has no implications for the EU budget.