Fisheries, Inter-American tropical tuna Commission ICCAT: temporary adhesion of Spain to the Convention

PURPOSE: to authorise the Kingdom of Spain to accede to the Convention establishing the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission on a temporary basis. COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council decision 1999/405/EC. CONTENT: the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) is a regional fisheries organisation with competence in the Central-Eastern Pacific. In the context of the fishing activities undertaken in that geographical zone by the Community fleet, currently comprised of Spanish vessels, the Community has been negotiating its accession to the IATTC. However, it appears unlikely that the Community's accession will take place in the near future. As a result, and in order that the interests of the Community fleet are represented within the IATTC, the Community is, as an exceptional measure, authorising the Kingdom of Spain to accede to the IATTC on a temporary basis, until the Community becomes a member. Spain's participation in the decisions of the IATTC must be undertaken in line with the Community position and in close consultation with the Commission. The Commission will then subsequently report to the European Parliament and the Council on the decisions taken in the IATTC. ENTRY INTO FORCE: 10/06/1999.