EU/Senegal Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement and Implementation Protocol from 20 November 2014 to 19 November 2019
PURPOSE: to conclude a Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and Senegal and the Implementation Protocol thereto.
NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision (EU) 2015/384 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of a Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Senegal and the Implementation Protocol thereto.
BACKGROUND: the EU and Senegal negotiated a partnership agreement on sustainable fisheries for a duration of five years, renewable by tacit agreement, and an Implementation Protocol thereto for a period of five years, granting Union vessels fishing opportunities in the waters over which the Republic of Senegal has sovereignty or jurisdiction in respect of fisheries.
The Agreement and Protocol will apply on a provisional basis from the date of their signature.
It is now necessary to conclude the Agreement and the Protocol on behalf of the European Union.
CONTENT: under this Agreement, the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Senegal and the Implementation Protocol thereto are hereby approved on behalf of the Union.
The main elements are:
Main objectives of the Agreement: the main aim of the new Agreement is to provide an updated framework taking into account the priorities of the reformed Common Fisheries Policy and its external dimension, with a view to establishing a strategic partnership between the European Union and Senegal in the field of fisheries.
Protocol: the aim of the Protocol is to grant fishing opportunities to European Union vessels in Senegalese waters taking into account available scientific assessments, in particular those of the Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic (CECAF), and in accordance with the best available scientific advice and the recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), within the limits of the available surplus.
The aim is also to enhance cooperation between the EU and Senegal to promote a sustainable fisheries policy and sound exploitation of fisheries resources in the Senegalese fishing zones, in the interests of both parties.
Fishing opportunities: the Protocol provides for fishing opportunities in the following categories:
· 28 tuna seiners;
· 8 pole-and-line vessels;
· 2 trawlers (targeting black hake, a deep-sea demersal species).
Financial contribution: the annual financial contribution has been set at:
· EUR 1 808 000 for the first year,
· EUR 1 738 000 for the second, third and fourth years,
· EUR 1 668 000 for the fifth year,
based on:
(1) a reference tonnage of 14 000 tonnes for tunas and a volume of authorised catches of 2 000 tonnes for black hake, the amounts linked to such access having been set at EUR 1 058 000 for the first year, EUR 988 000 for the second, third and fourth years, and at EUR 918 000 for the fifth year; and
(2) support for the development of the sectoral fisheries policy of Senegal amounting to EUR 750 000 per year.
Duration of the Agreement: the new Agreement covers a period of five years from its entry into force, renewable by tacit agreement.
The Protocol covers a period of five years from the date on which it was signed by the parties.
Simplified procedure: the Agreement establishes a Joint Committee responsible for monitoring its implementation. Furthermore, in accordance with the Protocol, the Joint Committee may approve certain amendments to the Protocol. In order to facilitate the approval of such amendments, the Commission should be empowered, subject to specific conditions, to approve them under a simplified procedure.
Annex: the Decision lays down in an annex the scope of the empowerment and procedure for the establishment of the Union position in the Joint Committee.
ENTRY INTO FORCE: the Decision shall enter into force on 2.3.2015. The Agreement and the Protocol shall enter into force on the date on which the Parties notify each other that they have completed the necessary procedures for that purpose.