EN Official Journal of the European Union L 125/48

COUNCIL DECISION

of 14 April 2014

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

(2014/232/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 16 April 2007, the Council approved the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Gabonese Republic and the European Community (the ‘Partnership Agreement’) by Regulation (EC) No 450/2007 (1).

(2) The Union has negotiated a new protocol with the Gabonese Republic (the ‘New Protocol’) granting Union vessels fishing opportunities in waters in which the Gabonese Republic exercises its sovereignty or its jurisdiction as regards fishing.

(3) The New Protocol was signed in accordance with Council Decision 2013/462/EU (2), and is applied provisionally as from 24 July 2013 (3).

(4) The New Protocol should therefore be approved.

(5) The Partnership Agreement set up a Joint Committee which is responsible for monitoring the application 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,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Gabonese Republic is hereby approved on behalf of the Union (4).

Article 2

The President of the Council shall, on behalf of the Union, make the notification provided for in Article 15 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 of its adoption.

Done at Luxembourg, 14 April 2014. For the Council The President A. TSAFTARIS

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 450/2007 of 16 April 2007 on the conclusion of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Gabonese Republic and the European Community (OJ L 109, 26.4.2007, p. 1).

(2) Council Decision 2013/462/EU of 22 July 2013 on the signature, on behalf of the European Union, and on the provisional application of the Protocol setting out fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Gabonese Republic (OJ L 250, 20.9.2013, p. 1).

(3) Information on the date of signature of the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Gabonese Republic (OJ L 229, 28.8.2013, p. 1.).

(4) The Protocol was published in OJ L 250, 20.9.2013, p. 2 together with the decision on its signature.