COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2019/2218

of 24 October 2019

on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and provisional application of the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community

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(5) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) On 23 July 2007 the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 894/2007 (1), concluding the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community (2) (‘the Agreement’). The Agreement entered into force on 29 August 2011 and remains in force.

(2) On 18 December 2017 the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe (‘São Tomé and Príncipe’) with a view to the conclusion of a new protocol to implement the Agreement.

(3) The previous protocol to the Agreement expired on 22 May 2018.

(4) The Commission has negotiated a new protocol on behalf of the Union. Following the conclusion of the negotiations, the new protocol was initialled on 17 April 2019.

(5) The objective of the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community (‘the Protocol’) is to enable the Union and São Tomé and Príncipe to work together more closely in order to promote a sustainable fisheries policy and the sound exploitation of fisheries resources in São Tomé and Príncipe waters and to support efforts by São Tomé and Príncipe to develop its fisheries sector.

(6) In order to ensure an expeditious start to the fishing activities of Union vessels, the Protocol should be applied on a provisional basis as from the signature thereof.

(7) The Protocol should be signed and applied on a provisional basis, pending the completion of the procedures necessary for its entry into force,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 The signing, on behalf of the Union, of the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community is hereby authorised, subject to the conclusion of the said Protocol. The text of the Protocol is attached to this Decision.

Article 2 The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign the Protocol on behalf of the Union.

Article 3 The Protocol shall be applied on a provisional basis as from the date of its signature (3), pending the completion of the procedures necessary for its entry into force.

Article 4 This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.

Done Luxembourg, 24 October 2019. For the Council The President A.-K. PEKONEN

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 894/2007 of 23 July 2007 on the conclusion of a Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community (OJ L 205, 7.8.2007, p. 35).

(2) OJ L 205, 7.8.2007, p. 36.

(3) The date from which the Protocol will be provisionally applied will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union by the General Secretariat of the Council.