EN Official Journal of the European Union L 160/4

COUNCIL DECISION

of 13 May 2014

on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Seychelles

(2014/306/EU)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 43, in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a) and Article 218(7) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Having regard to the consent of the European Parliament,

Whereas:

(1) On 5 October 2006, the Council approved the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Seychelles (1) (the ‘Agreement’) by means of Regulation (EC) No 1562/2006 (2).

(2) The fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Agreement were set out in a Protocol (3). The most recent Protocol expires on 17 January 2014.

(3) The Union has negotiated with the Republic of Seychelles a new Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Agreement (the ‘new Protocol’).

(4) In accordance with Council Decision 2014/5/EU (4), the new Protocol has been signed and is applied on a provisional basis as from 18 January 2014.

(5) The Agreement set up a Joint Committee which is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Agreement. Furthermore, in accordance with the Protocol, the Joint Committee may approve certain modifications to the Protocol. In order to facilitate the approval of such modifications, it is appropriate to empower the Commission, subject to specific conditions, to approve them under a simplified procedure.

(6) It is in the interest of the Union to implement the Agreement by means of a Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution and defining the conditions for promoting responsible fishing and sustainable fisheries in the Seychelles' waters.

(7) The new Protocol should be approved,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Seychelles (the ‘Protocol’) is hereby approved on behalf of the Union (5).

Article 2

The President of the Council shall, on behalf of the Union, give the notification provided for in Article 16 of the Protocol.

Article 3

Subject to the provisions and conditions set out in the Annex, the Commission shall be empowered to approve, on behalf of the Union, modifications to the Protocol in the Joint Committee.

Article 4

This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union (6).

Done at Brussels, 13 May 2014. For the Council The President E. VENIZELOS

(1) OJ L 290, 20.10.2006, p. 2.

(2) Council Regulation (EC) No 1562/2006 of 5 October 2006 concerning the conclusion of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Seychelles (OJ L 290, 20.10.2006, p. 1).

(3) OJ L 345, 30.12.2010, p. 3.

(4) Council Decision 2014/5/EU of 16 December 2013 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and provisional application of the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Seychelles (OJ L 4, 9.1.2014, p. 1).

(5) The Protocol has been published in OJ L 4, 9.1.2014, p. 3 together with the decision on its signature.

(6) The date of entry into force of the Protocol will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union by the General Secretariat of the Council.