PURPOSE: to conclude the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Government of the Cook Islands concerning the extension of the Protocol implementing the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the Cook Islands.
PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.
ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.
BACKGROUND: the Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters concerning an extension of the Protocol on the implementation of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the Cook Islands, expiring on 13 October 2020, was signed, subject to its conclusion at a later date.
The Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters should now be approved.
CONTENT: the Council’s draft aims to approve, on behalf of the EU, the Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the European Union and the Government of the Cook Islands concerning an extension of the Protocol implementing the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the Cook Islands.
The aim of the Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters is to enable the EU and the Government of the Cook Islands to continue working together to promote a sustainable fisheries policy and the sound exploitation of fisheries resources in the Cook Islands’ waters, and to allow Union vessels to carry out their fishing activities in those waters.
The Agreement aims to ensure the extension of the Protocol currently in force setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the Cook Islands, pending the finalisation of negotiations for the renewal of the Protocol.
From the signature of the exchange of letters, the arrangements applicable during the last year of the Protocol would be renewed under the same conditions for a maximum period of one year. The amount of sectoral support relating to the extension of the agreement is EUR 350 000.