EN Official Journal of the European Union L 179/1

COUNCIL DECISION

of 13 May 2014

on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Protocol between the European Union and the Union of the Comoros setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement currently in force between the two parties

(2014/369/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 (7) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Having regard to the consent of the European Parliament,

Whereas:

(1) On 5 October 2006, the Council approved the Partnership Agreement in the fisheries sector between the European Community and the Union of the Comoros (the ‘Partnership Agreement’) by means of Regulation (EC) No 1563/2006 (1).

(2) The European Union has negotiated with the Union of the Comoros a new protocol to the Partnership Agreement granting vessels of the European Union fishing opportunities in Comoros waters.

(3) That new protocol was signed on the basis of Council Decision 2013/786/EU (2), and is provisionally applicable as from 1 January 2014.

(4) It is in the interest of the European Union to implement the Partnership Agreement by means of a Protocol establishing the fishing opportunities and the corresponding financial contribution, and setting out the conditions for promoting responsible and sustainable fishing in Comoros waters.

(5) The Partnership Agreement sets up a Joint Committee which is responsible for monitoring the application of this 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..

(6) The new Protocol should be approved,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Protocol between the European Union and the Union of the Comoros setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Communiity and the Union of the Comoros (the ‘Protocol’) is hereby concluded on behalf of the European Union (3).

Article 2

The President of the Council shall, on behalf of the European 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, the Commission shall be empowered to approve, on behalf of the European 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 Brussels, 13 May 2014. For the Council The President E. VENIZELOS

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 1563/2006 of 5 October 2006 concerning the conclusion of the Partnership Agreement in the fisheries sector between the European Community and the Union of the Comoros (OJ L 290, 20.10.2006, p. 6).

(2) Council Decision 2013/786/EU of 16 December 2013 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and the provisional application of the Protocol between the European Union and the Union of the Comoros setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement currently in force between the two parties (OJ L 349, 21.12.2013, p. 4).

(3) The Protocol was published in OJ L 349, 21.12.2013, p. 5 along with the decision on its signing.