EN Official Journal of the European Union L 145/1

COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2016/870

of 24 May 2016

on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania for a period of four years

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), second subparagraph, point (a) 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 30 November 2006, the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 1801/2006 on the conclusion of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (2) (‘the Partnership Agreement’).

(2) The protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Partnership Agreement expired on 16 December 2014.

(3) The Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania negotiated a new Protocol (3) to the Partnership Agreement (‘the Protocol’).

(4) The Protocol was signed in accordance with Decision (EU) 2015/2191 (4) and is to be provisionally applied from 16 November 2015.

(5) Article 10 of the Partnership Agreement establishes a Joint Committee which is responsible for monitoring the application of the Partnership Agreement and ensuring that it is implemented. 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, the Commission should be empowered, subject to specific conditions, to approve these modifications under a simplified procedure.

(6) The Protocol should be approved,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania for a period of four years 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 17 of the Protocol.

Article 3

Subject to the provisions and conditions laid down in the Annex to this Decision, the Commission shall be empowered, on behalf of the Union, to approve, within the Joint Committee, modifications to the Protocol.

Article 4

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 24 May 2016. For the Council The President A.G. KOENDERS

(1) Consent of 10 May 2016 (not yet published in the Official Journal).

(2) Council Regulation (EC) No 1801/2006 of 30 November 2006 on the conclusion of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (OJ L 343, 8.12.2006, p. 1).

(3) Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania for a period of four years (OJ L 315, 1.12.2015, p. 3).

(4) Council Decision (EU) 2015/2191 of 10 November 2015 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and provisional application of the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania for a period of four years (OJ L 315, 1.12.2015, p. 1).

(5) The Protocol has been published in OJ L 315 of 1.12.2015 together with the decision on its signature.