EC/Mauritania Fisheries Partnership Agreement: fishing opportunities and financial contribution from 18 November 2012 to 15 December 2014. Protocol

PURPOSE: to conclude a Protocol between the European Union and Mauritania setting out fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the two Parties currently in force.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

BACKGROUND: on 30 November 2006, the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 1801/2006 on the conclusion of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and Mauritania.

The Union has negotiated a new Protocol with the Islamic Republic of Mauritania granting EU vessels fishing opportunities in waters in which Mauritania exercises its sovereignty or its jurisdiction as regards fishing.

The new Protocol was signed on the basis of a Council Decision and and has been applied provisionally from the date of its signature.

It should be approved on behalf of the European Union.

LEGAL BASIS: Article 43, in conjunction with point (a) of Article 218(6) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

CONTENT: under this draft Council Decision, it is proposed to conclude a Protocol between the European Union and Mauritania setting out fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the two Parties.

The main aim of the Protocol to the Agreement is to provide fishing opportunities for vessels of the European Union in the waters of Mauritania within the limits of the available surplus and in the framework of a sustainable fisheries policy.

The draft Fisheries Protocol sets out the annual fishing opportunities by fishing category and annual tonnage. It establishes the financial contribution granted by the European Union regarding access by European Union vessels to Mauritanian fishing zones. The financial contribution is set at EUR 70 million over the entire period of the protocol.

For further details are regards the rules and procedures of the draft Protocol, as well as the EU’s budgetary implication, please refer to the summary of the Commission’s initial legislative proposal dated 24/09/2012.

Duration of the fishing protocol: the Protocol and the Annexes shall apply for a period of two years from the date of its entry into force, unless notice of termination is given.