COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 2718/93 of 28 September 1993 on the conclusion of the Protocol defining, for the period 18 January 1993 to 17 January 1996, the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Seychelles on fishing off Seychelles

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 43 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

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

Whereas, in accordance with the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Seychelles on fishing off Seychelles, signed in Brussels on 28 October 1987, the Contracting Parties held negotiations with a view to determining amendments to be made to that Agreement at the end of the period of application of the Protocol attached to the said Agreement;

Whereas, as a result of these negotiations, a new Protocol defining for the period 18 January 1993 to 17 January 1996 the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the abovementioned Agreement was initialled on 14 January 1993;

Whereas it is in the Community's interest to approve that Protocol,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The Protocol defining, for the period 18 January 1993 to 17 January 1996, the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Seychelles on fishing off Seychelles is hereby approved on behalf of the Community.

The text of the Protocol is attached to this Regulation.

Article 2

The President of the Council is hereby authorized to designate the persons empowered to sign the Protocol in order to bind the Community.

Article 3

This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 28 September 1993.

For the Council

The President

G. COEME

(1) OJ No C 194, 19. 7. 1993.

PROTOCOL defining for the period 18 January 1993 to 17 January 1996 the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Seychelles on fishing off Seychelles

Article 1

1. Pursuant to Article 2 of the Agreement, and notwithstanding Article 12 of the Agreement relating to further periods of the Agreement, licences to fish simultaneously in Seychelles' waters shall be granted to 40 ocean-going tuna seiners for a period of three years beginning on 18 January 1993.

2. Furthermore fishing licences may also be granted for tuna trollers and surface tuna longliners not exceeding 18 metres length overall.

Article 2

The financial contribution referred to in Article 6 of the Agreement shall be fixed at ECU 6 900 000 for the period provided for in Article 1 of this Protocol, payable in three equal annual instalments. The financial contribution corresponds to a catch of 46 000 tonnes of tuna per year in Seychelles' waters. If the tuna caught by Community vessels in Seychelles' waters exceeds 46 000 tonnes, the Community shall increase the financial contribution proportionately.

Article 3

The Community shall also pay, during the period referred to in Article 1, a contribution of ECU 2 700 000 payable in three equal annual instalments, towards the financing of scientific programmes in Seychelles to gain greater knowledge of fish stocks concerning the region of the Indian Ocean surrounding the Seychelles islands, particularly in respect of highly migratory species, and the purchase or maintenance or both, as Seychelles may think fit, of equipment to improve the administrative structure relating to fisheries in Seychelles.

The Seychelles authorities shall forward a brief report on the way that amount is used to the Commission services.

Article 4

The two parties hereby agree that an essential condition for the success of their cooperation is that the skills and know-how of persons engaged in sea fishing be improved. To this end, the Community will assist Seychellois nationals in finding places in establishments in its Member States or States with which it has concluded cooperation agreements and will make available an amount of ECU 300 000 for study or practical training awards with a maximum duration of five years in the various scientific, technical and economic subjects relating to fisheries. Of this amount, up to ECU 100 000 may be used, at the request of the Seychelles' authorities, to cover the cost of attending international meetings relating to fisheries.

Article 5

The Protocol and Annex I, dated 18 and 17 January 1990 respectively, to the Agreement which came into force on 28 October 1987 between the European Community and the Republic of Seychelles on fishing off Seychelles are hereby repealed and replaced by this Protocol and Annex I.

Article 6

This Protocol and Annex I shall enter into force on the date of their signature.

This Protocol and Annex I shall be applicble from 18 January 1993.