EN Official Journal of the European Union L 48/31

COUNCIL DECISION

of 12 February 2008

on the signing, on behalf of the European Community, and the provisional application of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters on the amendments to the Protocol setting out, for the period from 18 January 2005 to 17 January 2011, the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Seychelles on fishing off Seychelles

(2008/150/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37, in conjunction with Article 300(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1) The Protocol setting out, for the period from 18 January 2005 to 17 January 2011, the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Seychelles on fishing off Seychelles was adopted by Council Regulation (EC) No 115/2006 (1) on 23 January 2006.

(2) In view of the extremely good utilisation of the current fisheries Agreement, the Seychelles authorities’ wish to strengthen the partnership and the Community authorities’ desire to bring this Protocol into line with other tuna protocols, the two Parties have initialled amendments to the existing Protocol in the form of an Exchange of Letters. The outcome of these amendments has been the subject of an Exchange of Letters and involves an increase in the reference tonnage, the introduction of financial support for the partnership and adjustment of the ratio between the shares paid by shipowners and the Community budget.

(3) In order for these amendments to the current Protocol to apply from 18 January 2008, the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters should be signed, subject to its definitive conclusion by the Council.

(4) These amendments do not alter the allocation of fishing opportunities among the Member States,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The signature of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters on the amendments to the Protocol setting out, for the period from 18 January 2005 to 17 January 2011, the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Seychelles on fishing off Seychelles is hereby approved by the Council 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 President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters on behalf of the Community subject to its conclusion.

Article 3

The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters shall be applied provisionally by the Community from 18 January 2008.

Article 4

The fishing opportunities set out in the Protocol and laid down in Council Regulation (EC) No 115/2006 on 23 January 2006 shall not be amended and are confirmed as follows:

Types of fishing Member State Fishing opportunities Tuna seiners France 17 vessels Spain 22 vessels Italy 1 vessel Surface longliners Spain 2 vessels France 5 vessels Portugal 5 vessels

If licence applications from those Member States do not cover all the fishing opportunities laid down by the Protocol, the Commission may take into consideration licence applications from any other Member State.

Done at Brussels, 12 February 2008. For the Council The President A. BAJUK

(1) OJ L 21, 25.1.2006, p. 1.