EC/Cape Verde Fisheries Partnership Agreement (2019-2024). Implementation Protocol

PURPOSE: to conclude the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cape Verde (2019-2024).

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act. 

BACKGROUND: the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cape Verde entered into force on 30 March 2007. The current Protocol to the Agreement entered into force on 23 December 2014 and expires on 22 December 2018.

The Commission has negotiated, on behalf of the European Union, a new Protocol on the implementation of the Agreement. At the end of the negotiations, the Protocol was initialled on 12 October 2018.

The Protocol has been applied on a provisional basis from the date of its signature. It must now be approved on behalf of the Union.

CONTENT: the purpose of the draft Council Decision is to approve, on behalf of the Union, the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cape Verde (2019-2024).

The objective of the Protocol is to enable the Union and the Republic of Cape Verde to work more closely on promoting a sustainable fisheries policy, sound exploitation of fisheries resources in Cape Verde waters, and efforts by Cape Verde to develop a blue economy.

The Agreement establishes the Joint Committee responsible for monitoring its implementation. Furthermore, in accordance with the Protocol, the Joint Committee may adopt certain modifications to the Protocol. In order to facilitate the approval of such amendments, the Commission should be authorised, subject to specific substantive and procedural conditions, to approve them on behalf of the Union under a simplified procedure.

The Union position on the modifications to the Protocol should be established by the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Governments of the Member States. The proposed amendments will be accepted unless a blocking minority of the Member States.

The position to be adopted by the Union in the Joint Committee on other matters should be determined in accordance with the Treaties and established forms of practice.