EC/Guinea-Bissau Fisheries Partnership Agreement. Implementing Protocol (2024-2029)

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union, the Protocol (2024-2029) implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.

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 Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (2024–2029) signed, subject to its conclusion at a later date, should now be approved.

CONTENT: the draft Council decision concerns the approval, on behalf of the European Union, of the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (2024–2029).

The objectives of the Protocol are to enable Union vessels to fish in Guinea-Bissau’s fishing zone and to enable the Union and Guinea-Bissau to work closely together to further promote the development of a sustainable fisheries policy and the responsible exploitation of fishery resources in Guinea-Bissau’s fishing zone. That cooperation will also contribute to decent working conditions in the fisheries sector.

The Joint Committee responsible for monitoring the application of the Agreement and the Protocol will have the power to approve certain amendments to the Protocol. The Commission will be empowered, subject to substantive and procedural conditions, to approve them on behalf of the Union under a simplified procedure.

The Union’s position on proposed amendments to the Protocol should be established by the Council. The proposed amendments should be approved unless a blocking minority of Member States objects to them.