EC/ Guinea-Bissau fisheries agreement: extension of the protocol for the period from 16 June 2006 to 15 June 2007

PURPOSE :to conclude the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters concerning the extension of the Protocol establishing the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for in the Agreement between the EEC and the Government of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau on fishing off the coast of Guinea-Bissau for the period 16 June 2006 to 15 June 2007.

PROPOSED ACT : Council Regulation.

CONTENT : the Protocol to the Fisheries Agreement between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau expired on 15 June 2006. This proposal concerns the provisional application of the extension of the Protocol for one more year, until 15 June 2007.

The two parties agreed in December 2005 to extend this Agreement and to implement the action programme to support the control and inspection required for the sustainable development of the fisheries sector. The two parties agreed to extend the Protocol for one year, from 16 June 2006 to 15 June 2007. This extension, in the form of an Exchange of Letters, was initialled by the parties on 17 January 2006, and sets out the technical and financial conditions governing the fishing activities of EC vessels in the waters of Guinea-Bissau for the period from 16 June 2006 to 15 June 2007.

The Commission proposes, on this basis, that the Council adopt the Regulation on the conclusion of an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters extending the Protocol. A proposal for a Council Decision on the provisional application of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters extending the Protocol pending its final entry into force is the subject of a separate procedure.

The fishing opportunities set out in the Protocol are allocated to Member States as follows:

a) shrimps:

§         Italy 1776 GRT;

§         Spain 1421 GRT;

§         Portugal 1066 GRT;

§         Greece 137 GRT;

b) fin-fish/cephalopods:

§         Spain 3143 GRT;

§         Italy 786 GRT;

§         Greece 471 GRT;

c) tuna seiners:

§         Spain 20 vessels ;

§         France 19 vessels ;

§         Italy 1 vessel;

d) surface longliners and pole-and-line vessels:

§         Spain 21 vessels;

§         France 5 vessels;

§         Portugal 4 vessels.

For further information concerning the financial implications of this measure, please refer to the financial statement.