The European Parliament approved by 639 votes to 29, with 27 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of 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 on the implementation of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the Cook Islands.
Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement.
The aim of the Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters is to enable the Union 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 waters of the Cook Islands, and to allow Union vessels to carry out their fishing activities in those waters.
The Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement should provide fishing opportunities for vessels flying the flags of Member States based on the best scientific advice available, in compliance with the conservation and management measures laid down by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) within the limits of the available surplus.
The Protocol provides fishing opportunities for four tuna seiners. It provides for an annual financial contribution of EUR 735 000 for the first and second years and EUR 700 000 for the third and fourth years, this being based on:
- a reference tonnage of 7 000 tonnes, for which the access-related amounts have been set at EUR 385 000 for the first and the second years and EUR 350 000 for the third and fourth years; and
- support for the development of the Cook Islands’ sectoral fisheries policy, amounting to EUR 350 000 for the first, second, third, and fourth years. This is in line with the aims of national fisheries policy, not least the Cook Islands’ needs both as regards support for scientific research and small-scale fisheries and as regards monitoring, control, surveillance, and measures to combat illegal fishing.