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EC/Kiribati Fisheries Partnership Agreement: fishing opportunities and financial contribution; EU/Kiribati Protocol from 16 September 2012 to 15 September 2015

2012/0229(NLE)

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, on the one hand, and the Republic of Kiribati, on the other.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Parliament’s consent is required for the Council to conclude the Protocol.

BACKGROUND: on 23 July 2007 the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 893/2007 on the conclusion of a Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community, on the one hand, and the Republic of Kiribati, on the other. A Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Agreement expired on 15 September 2012.

The Union has negotiated a new Protocol with the Republic of Kiribati granting EU vessels fishing opportunities in the waters over which the Republic of Kiribati exercises its sovereignty or jurisdiction. The Protocol was signed in accordance with a Council Decision and has been applied provisionally since 16 September 2012.

The Protocol should be now be approved on behalf of the European Union.

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 Council Decision aims to conclude a new Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community, on the one hand, and the Republic of Kiribati, on the other.

The fishing opportunities and financial contribution to be made to this country to allow EU vessels access to its fishery resources are as follows:

  • fishing opportunities: the fishing opportunities granted shall be for 15 000 tonnes of highly migratory species as listed in Annex 1 to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, within the Kiribati EEZ, for 4 (four) purse seine vessels and 6 (six) long-line vessels (measures are provided to increase the quota from the second year of implementation of the protocol);
  • financial contribution: EUR 1 325 000 per year for the whole period.

For details of the principles, rules and procedures concerning the draft Protocol on the EU budget, please refer to the summary of the Commission’s initial legislative proposal dated 27/08/2012.

Duration of the Protocol: this Protocol and its Annex shall apply for a period of three years from 16 September 2012 (date of the provisional application), unless notice of termination is given by one or the other parties.