EC/Cape Verde Fisheries Partnership Agreement: fishing opportunities and financial contribution from 1 September 2011 to 31 August 2014. Protocol
PURPOSE: to conclude a new Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cape Verde.
PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.
BACKGROUND: based on a mandate from the Council, the European Commission has negotiated with the Republic of Cape Verde to renew the Protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cape Verde, dated 19 December 2006. Following these negotiations, a new protocol was initialled on 22 December 2010, covering a period of three years starting from 1 September 2011, since the protocol currently in force will expire on 31 August 2011 (see CNS/2006/0122).
IMPACT ASSESSMENT: no impact assessment was carried out. The Commission’s negotiating position was based in part on the results of an ex-post evaluation carried out by external experts.
LEGAL BASIS: Article 43(2) in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
CONTENT: this proposal for a Decision relates to the conclusion of a new Protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the EU and Cape Verde. The objective is to continue the cooperation between the European Union and the Republic of Cape Verde to create a partnership framework within which to develop a sustainable fisheries policy and to ensure the sound exploitation of fisheries resources in the Cape Verde fishing zone, which is in the interests of both Parties.
Financial contribution: the overall annual contribution of the Protocol of EUR 1 305 000 over the whole period is based on: a) an annual reference tonnage fixed at 5 000 tonnes for 74 vessels, corresponding to EUR 325 000 per year, and b) support for the development of the sectoral fisheries policy of the Republic of Cape Verde amounting to EUR 110 000 per year. This support meets the objectives of the national fisheries policy.
The reference tonnage has been kept unchanged at 5 000 tonnes/year. Nevertheless, taking account of needs in the fisheries sector in Cape Verde, the budget allocated to sectoral support has increased in comparison with the previous Protocol. The annual financial contribution has increased by EUR 50 000 (+ 13%) in comparison with the previous Protocol (2006-11).
Fishing authorisation: the new Agreement grants fishing authorisations to the tuna category alone.
Fishing opportunities:
- 28 tuna seiners,
- 35 surface longliners and
- 11 pole-and-line vessels will be authorised to fish.
Advances and fees payable by shipowners:EUR 35 per tonne of tuna caught in the Cape Verde fishing area by seiners and surface longliners and EUR 25 per tonne for pole-andline vessels. The annual advances are set at EUR 4 375 per tuna seiner, EUR 3 150 per longliner and EUR 450 per pole-and-line vessel.
Period of application: for a period of three years from 1 September 2011.
BUDGETARY IMPLICATION: the overall annual contribution of the Protocol of EUR 1 305 000 from 2011 to 2013, that is EUR 435 000/year (administrative expenditure excluded).
The financial envelope of EUR 264 600 is provided for administrative expenditure.
It should be noted that the advances and fees have no impact on the EU’s budget.