EC/Comoros fisheries agreement: extension of the protocol for the period from 28 February 2004 to 31st December 2004

PURPOSE : to approve the Agreement extending the Protocol on fishing opportunities and financial contribution between the EEC and Comoros.

PROPOSED ACT : Council Regulation.

CONTENT : The Protocol to the Fisheries Agreement between the EC and the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros expired on 27 February 2004.

The Commission has undertaken to carry out detailed evaluations and impact analyses before renewing any protocols and after their expiry. In the case of the Protocol to the EC-Comoros Fisheries Agreement, such an evaluation – which can take from six to eight months – could not be completed in time.

Therefore, the two parties have decided to extend the expired Protocol for the period from 28 February to 31 December 2004. The extension, in the form of an exchange of letters, was initialled by the two parties on 3 February 2004, in order to set out the technical and financial conditions governing the fishing activities of EC vessels in Comorian waters for the above period.

Before a new Protocol is proposed, the existing one (including the extension period) will be thoroughly evaluated and an ex-anteassessment made of the proposal to conclude a new Protocol.

The Commission proposes, on this basis, that the Council adopt the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters on the extension of the Protocol. A proposal for a Council Decision on the provisional application of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of letters concerning the extension pending its definitive entry into force is the subject of a separate procedure.

The fishing opportunities set out in the Protocol will be allocated among the Member States as follows:

- tuna seiners:

Spain: 18 vessels;

France: 21 vessels;

Italy: 1 vessel;

- surface longliners:

Spain: 20 vessels;

Portugal: 5 vessels.

If licence applications from these Member States do not cover all the fishing opportunities fixed by the Protocol, the Commission may take into consideration licence applications from any other Member State.

The Member States whose vessels fish under this Protocol shall be required to notify the

Commission of the quantities of each stock caught in the Comorian fishing zone in accordance with Commission Regulation 500/2001/EC.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS :

- Budget lines and headings:

110301 (ex B78000) : International Agreements on fishing.

11010404 (ex B78000A) : International Agreements on fishing: administrative expenses.

- Overall figures :

- Total allocation for action: EUR 291,875.

- Period of application: 28 February 2004 to 31 December 2004.

- Multiannual estimate of expenditure: EUR 291,875.

- Technical and administrative assistance: EUR 40 000 (2004).

- Overall financial impact of human resources and other administrative expenditure: EUR 35,660.

- Overall costs: EUR 367.535.