EC/Guinea-Bissau fisheries agreement: protocol for the period from 16 June 2001 to 15 June 2006

PURPOSE: To extend the Protocol to the Fisheries Agreement between the EU and Guinea-Bissau. CONTENT: The Protocol to the Fisheries Agreement signed between the European Union and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau expired on 15 June 2001. A new Protocol in which the technical and financial conditions are fixed was signed in May 2001. The new Protocol is to cover the period of 16 June 2001 to 15 June 2006. The Commission therefore proposes that the Council adopt this Regulation setting out the conditions of the Protocol as agreed by the two parties. A proposal for a Council Decision on the provisional application of the new protocol pending its definitive entry into force is the subject of a separate procedure. The new Protocol which was initialled by both parties on 30 May 2001 provides for fishing opportunities comprising 12 400 GRT for trawler fishing (200 GRT less than under the previous Protocol, or ·1.5%), divided into 9 600 GRT for shrimp fishing and 2 800 GRT for fin-fish and cephalopods. For tuna, fishing opportunities for tuna seiners have increased from 37 to 40 vessels (+8%), while those for pole-and-line tuna vessels and surface longliners have decreased from 52 to 36 vessels (·30%). Under the new Protocol (2001-06), the Community will pay total compensation of EUR 51 million (over five years): EUR 10 million in the first three years and EUR 10.5 million in the final two years, as against EUR 9 million per year under the 1997-2001 Protocol. �