EC/Mauritania Fisheries Partnership Agreement: extension of the Protocol

PURPOSE: to conclude the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania on the extension of the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and Mauritania, which expires on 15 November 2020.

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 Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania on an extension to the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, expiring on 15 November 2020 was signed.

The Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters should now be approved.

CONTENT: the Council’s draft aims to approve, on behalf of the EU, the Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the European Union and Mauritania on an extension to the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and Mauritania, expiring on 15 November 2020.

The aim of the Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters is to enable the Union and Mauritania to continue working together to promote a sustainable fisheries policy and a sound exploitation of fishery resources in Mauritanian waters and to allow Union vessels to fish in those waters.

The Agreement aims to ensure the extension of the Protocol currently in force setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and Mauritania, pending the finalisation of negotiations for the renewal of the Protocol.

From the signature of the exchange of letters, the arrangements applicable during the last year of the Protocol would be renewed under the same conditions for a maximum period of one year. The amount of sectoral support relating to the extension of the agreement is EUR 4.125 million.