COUNCIL DECISION of 8 July 1991 on the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters concerning the provisional application of Protocol 2 establishing for the period 1 April 1991 to 29 February 1992 the crawfish fishing opportunities and the corresponding financial compensation provided for in the Agreement on relations in the sea fisheries sector between the European Economic Community and the Kingdom of Morocco (91/360/EEC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,

Having regard to the Act of Accession of Spain and Portugal, and in particular Article 155 (2) (b) thereof,

Having regard to the Agreement on relations in the sea fisheries sector between the European Economic Community and the Kingdom of Morocco signed in Rabat on 26 May 1988 (1),

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas the Community and the Kingdom of Morocco conducted negotiations to determine the amendments or additions to be made to the Agreement on relations in the sea fisheries sector at the end of the period of application of Protocol 2;

Whereas, as a result of these negotiations, a new Protocol 2 was initialled on 19 March 1991;

Whereas, under that Protocol, Community fishermen benefit from fishing opportunities in the waters under the sovereignty or jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Morocco for the period 1 April 1991 to 29 February 1992;

Whereas, under Article 155 (2) (b) of the Act of Accession, it is for the Council to determine the procedures appropriate to take into consideration all or part of the interests of the Canary Islands when it adopts decisions, case by case, particularly with a view to the conclusion of fisheries agreements with third countries; whereas the case in point calls for the said procedures to be determined;

Whereas, in order to avoid any interruption in the fishing activities of Community vessels, it is essential that the Protocol in question be approved as soon as possible; whereas, for this reason, the two Parties have initialled an Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters providing for the provisional application of the initialled Protocol from 1 April 1991; whereas the Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters should be concluded pending a final decision taken on the basis of Article 43 of the Treaty,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters concerning the provisional application of Protocol 2 establishing for the period 1 April 1991 to 29 February 1992 the crawfish fishing opportunities and corresponding financial compensation provided for in the Agreement on relations in the sea fisheries sector between the European Economic Agreement and the Kingdom of Morocco is hereby approved on behalf of the Community.

The text of the Agreement is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

With a view to taking into consideration the interests of the Canary Islands, the Agreement referred to in Article 1 and, in so far as is necessary for its application, the provisions of the common fisheries policy relating to the conservation and management of fishery resources shall also apply to vessels which sail under the flag of Spain, which are recorded on a permanent basis in the registers of the relevant authorities at local level ('registros de base') in the Canary Islands, under the conditions specified in Note 6 to Annex I to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1135/88 of 7 March 1988 concerning the definition of the concept of 'originating products' and methods of administratie cooperation in trade between the customs territory of the Community, Ceuta and Melilla and the Canary Islands (2).

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, 8 July 1991. For the Council

The President

P. BUKMAN

(1) OJ No L 181, 12. 7. 1988, p. 1. (2) OJ No L 114, 2. 5. 1988, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3902/89 (OJ No L 375, 23. 12. 1989, p. 5).