EC/Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement: fishing opportunities and financial compensation from 28 February 2011 to 27 February 2012. Protocol

2011/0139(NLE)

PURPOSE: to conclude a new Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial compensation provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and Morocco.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

BACKGROUND: the European Union negotiated with Morocco a new Protocol providing EU vessels with fishing opportunities in waters falling within the sovereignty or jurisdiction of Morocco.

On the conclusion of those negotiations, the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial compensation provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Kingdom of Morocco was initialled on 25 February 2011.

The Protocol was signed in accordance with an EU Decision and has been applied on a provisional basis since 28 February 2011.

It is now appropriate for the Protocol to be concluded on behalf of the EU.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT: no impact assessment was carried out.

LEGAL BASIS: Article 43(2) in conjunction with point (a) of Article 218(6) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

CONTENT: under the proposed Decision, the Protocol between the European Union and Morocco setting out the fishing opportunities and financial compensation provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Kingdom of Morocco is hereby approved on behalf of the Union.

For further details on the main points of the Protocol, please refer to the summary of the previous initial legislative document dated 01/06/2011.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATION: this proposal has no budgetary implication for the Union budget.