EU/Mozambique Fisheries Partnership Agreement: fishing opportunities and financial contribution. Protocol from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2014

2011/0378(NLE)

PURPOSE : to conclude a new Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Mozambique.

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2012/306/EU on the conclusion of the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Mozambique.

BACKGROUND: on 22 November 2007, the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 1446/2007 on the conclusion of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Mozambique. A Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Agreement was attached thereto.

That protocol expired on 31 December 2011.

The Union negotiated with Mozambique a new Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Mozambique, providing EU vessels with fishing opportunities in the waters over which Mozambique have sovereignty or jurisdiction in respect of fisheries.

As a result of those negotiations, the Protocol was initialled on 2 June 2011.

In accordance with Council Decision 2012/91/EU, the Protocol was signed and is being applied provisionally.

It is now necessary to approve the Protocol on behalf of the European Union.

CONTENT: under this Decision, the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Mozambique is hereby approved on behalf of the Union.

Sustainable fishing: the Protocol aims at strengthening the cooperation between the Union and Mozambique and promoting a partnership framework in which to develop a sustainable fisheries policy and responsible exploitation of fishery resources in the Mozambique fishing zone in the interests of both Parties.

The two Parties agreed to cooperate with a view to implementing Mozambique sectoral fisheries policy and to that end shall continue the policy dialogue on the relevant programming

Financial contribution: the Protocol provides for a total financial contribution of EUR 2 940 000 for the whole period. This amount corresponds to:

  • EUR 520 000 per year equivalent to an annual reference tonnage of 8 000 tonnes, and
  • EUR 460 000 per year, corresponding to the additional envelop paid by the Union to support Mozambique fisheries and maritime policy.

The annual financial contribution to be paid by the budget of the Union is therefore 980 000 EUR.

Fishing opportunities for the European tuna fleet will be available to 43 purse seiners and 32 long liners, i.e. a total of 75 vessels. If the overall quantity of catches of tuna by European Union vessels in Mozambique fishing zone exceeds 8 000 tonnes per year, the amount of the annual financial contribution for access rights shall be EUR 65 for each additional tonne caught. However, the total annual amount paid by the European Union shall not be more than twice the amount indicated in the protocol (i.e. EUR 1 040 000). Where the quantities caught by European Union vessels in the Mozambique fishing zone exceed the quantities corresponding to twice the total annual amount, the amount due for the quantity exceeding that limit shall be paid the following year.

Period of application: the Protocol covers a period of three years starting form the adoption of the Council decision on the Protocol's signing and provisional application and after expiry of the current Protocol, on 31 December 2011.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: the Decision shall enter into force on 12/06/2012. The date of entry into force of the Protocol will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union by the General Secretariat of the Council.