Fisheries agreement EEC/Sao Tome and Príncipe: period from 1st June 2005 to 31st May 2006

PURPOSE : to extend by one year (until 31 May 2006 ) the Protocol annexed to the Fisheries Agreement between the EEC and the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe.

LEGISLATIVE ACT : Council Regulation 1124/2006/EC on the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters extending the Protocol setting out, for the period 1 June 2005 to 31 May 2006, the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe on fishing off the coast of São Tomé e Príncipe.

CONTENT : the Protocol annexed to the Fisheries Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe expired on 31 May 2005. Under the terms of that Agreement, the Contracting Parties are to enter into negotiations, before the period of validity of the Protocol to the Agreement expires, to determine by mutual agreement the contents of the Protocol for the period that follows and, where applicable, the amendments or additions to be made to the Annex.

Pending negotiations on changes to be made to the existing Protocol approved by Council Regulation 2348/2002/EC, the EEC and São Tomé and Príncipe have decided to extend its validity for one year by means of an Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters.

The main features of the extended Protocol are unchanged.

The fishing opportunities set out in the Protocol are allocated to Member States as follows:

- tuna seiners: France:18 ; Spain: 18

- pole-and-line tuna vessels: Portugal: 2

- surface longliners: Spain: 20 ; Portugal: 5

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

The Member States whose vessels fish under the Agreement must notify the Commission of the quantities of each stock caught within the fishing zone of São Tomé and Príncipe in accordance with Commission Regulation 500/2001/EC.

ENTRY INTO FORCE : 25/07/2006.