COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2019/385

of 4 March 2019

on the conclusion of the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire (2018-2024)

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)(v) and Article 218(7) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Having regard to the consent of the European Parliament (1),

Whereas:

(1) On 17 March 2008, the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 242/2008 (2) concluding the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire and the European Community (3) (the ‘Agreement’). The Agreement was then tacitly renewed and is still in force.

(2) The last Protocol to the Agreement expired on 30 June 2018.

(3) The Commission has negotiated, on behalf of the Union, a new Protocol implementing the Agreement (the ‘Protocol’). The Protocol was initialled on 16 March 2018.

(4) In accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2018/1069 (4), the Protocol was signed on 1 August 2018, subject to its conclusion at a later date.

(5) The Protocol has been applied on a provisional basis as from the date of its signature.

(6) The objective of the Protocol is to enable the Union and the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire (‘Côte d'Ivoire’) to work more closely on promoting a sustainable fisheries policy, sound exploitation of fisheries resources in Ivorian waters, and Côte d'Ivoire's efforts to develop a blue economy.

(7) The Protocol should be approved.

(8) Article 9 of the Agreement establishes the Joint Committee responsible for monitoring its implementation (the ‘Joint Committee’). Furthermore, in accordance with Article 5(4) and Articles 6 and 7 of the Protocol, the Joint Committee may approve certain amendments to the Protocol. In order to facilitate the approval of such amendments, the Commission should be empowered, subject to specific conditions, to approve those amendments under a simplified procedure,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 The Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire (2018-2024) 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 14 of the Protocol.

Article 3 Subject to the provisions and conditions set out in the Annex to this Decision, the Commission shall be empowered to approve, on behalf of the Union, the amendments to the Protocol to be adopted by 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.

Done at Brussels, 4 March 2019. For the Council The President A. ANTON

(1) Consent of 12 February 2019 (not yet published in the Official Journal).

(2) Council Regulation (EC) No 242/2008 of 17 March 2008 on the conclusion of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire (OJ L 75, 18.3.2008, p. 51).

(3) OJ L 48, 22.2.2008, p. 41.

(4) Council Decision (EU) 2018/1069 of 26 July 2018 on the signing, on behalf of the Union, and provisional application of the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire (2018-2024) (OJ L 194, 31.7.2018, p. 1).

(5) The Protocol has been published in OJ L 194 of 31.7.2018, p. 3, together with the decision on signature.