PURPOSE: to conclude the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Partnership Agreement in the fisheries sector between the European Community and the Union of the Comoros.
PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.
BACKGROUND: on 5 October 2006, the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 1563/2006 on the conclusion of the Partnership Agreement in the fisheries sector between the European Community and the Union of the Comoros. A Protocol is annexed to that Agreement.
The European Union negotiated with the Union of the Comoros a new Protocol, providing EU vessels with fishing opportunities in the waters over which the Comoros has sovereignty or jurisdiction in respect of fisheries.
On conclusion of those negotiations, the new Protocol was initialled on 21 May 2010 and amended by an Exchange of Letters on 16 September 2010. The new Protocol was signed and is being applied provisionally.
It is now necessary to conclude the new Protocol on behalf of the European Union.
IMPACT ASSESSMENT: no impact assessment was carried out.
LEGAL BASE: Article 43 in conjunction with point (a) of Article 218(6) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
CONTENT: under this proposed Decision, the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Partnership Agreement in the fisheries sector between the European Community and the Union of the Comoros is approved on behalf of the European Union, subject to the European Parliament’s consent.
The main elements of this Agreement are detailed in the summary of the document annexed to the procedure dated 15/11/2010.