COUNCIL DECISION of 20 January 1998 on the conclusion of an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters on the provisional application of the Protocol defining, for the period 6 September 1997 to 5 September 2000, the fishing rights and the financial compensation provided for by the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Cape Verde on fishing off the coast of Cape Verde (98/97/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Cape Verde on fishing off the coast of Cape Verde (1), and in particular Article 13 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas the Community and the Republic of Cape Verde held negotiations to determine the amendments or additions to be made to the Agreement on fishing off Cape Verde at the end of the period of application of the Protocol;

Whereas, as a result of these negotiations, a new Protocol was initialled on 10 July 1997;

Whereas, under this Protocol, Community fishermen enjoy fishing opportunities in the waters falling within the sovereignty or jurisdiction of Cape Verde for the period 6 September 1997 to 5 September 2000;

Whereas, in order to avoid interruption of fishing activities by Community vessels, it is essential that the Protocol in question be approved as quickly as possible; whereas both Parties have therefore initialled an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters providing for the provisional application of the initialled Protocol from the day following the date of expiry of the Protocol previously in force; whereas the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters should be concluded, subject to a definitive decision pursuant to Article 43 of the Treaty,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters on the provisional application of the Protocol defining, for the period 6 September 1997 to 5 September 2000, the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Cape Verde on fishing off the coast of Cape Verde is hereby approved on behalf of the Community.

The text of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The fishing possibilities provided for in the Protocol shall be allocated among the Member States as follows:

- freezer tuna seiners:

France: 19 vessels

Spain: 18 vessels,

- pole-and-line tuna vessels:

France: eight vessels

Spain: two vessels,

- surface longliners:

Spain: 18 vessels

Portugal: eight vessels,

- bottom longliners:

Portugal: three vessels.

If licence applications from those Member States do not exhaust the fishing possibilities provided for in the Protocol, the Commission may consider licence applications from any other Member State.

Article 3

The President of the Council is hereby authorized to designate the persons empowered to sign the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters in order to bind the Community.

Done at Brussels, 20 January 1998.

For the Council

The President

J. CUNNINGHAM

(1) OJ L 212, 9. 8. 1990, p. 1.