EN Official Journal of the European Union L 69/60

COMMISSION DECISION (EU) 2018/393

of 12 March 2018

approving, on behalf of the European Union, amendments to the Protocol between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Decision 2013/785/EU of 16 December 2013 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Protocol between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco (1), and in particular Article 3 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Article 10 of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Kingdom of Morocco (2), hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’, approved by Council Regulation (EC) No 764/2006 (3), establishes a Joint Committee responsible for monitoring the application of the Agreement and, in particular, for supervising the implementation, interpretation and smooth operation thereof, as well as for reassessing, where appropriate, the level of fishing opportunities.

(2) Article 5 of the Protocol between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco (4), hereinafter referred to as ‘the Protocol’, approved by Decision 2013/785/EU, authorises the Joint Committee to review the fishing opportunities by mutual agreement, provided that this review is designed to ensure the sustainability of Moroccan fisheries resources.

(3) At the meeting of the Joint Committee, which was held in Brussels from 25 to 27 October 2017, the Moroccan side announced its intention to reduce the quota allocated in 2018 to industrial pelagic trawlers (see fishing datasheet No 6) in order to ensure the sustainable exploitation of the stocks in question. In light of the expected impact of such a measure on the fleet in question, the European side then proposed changing certain arrangements for implementing the Protocol relating to industrial pelagic fishing, with a view to optimising the use of fishing opportunities in that category.

(4) Immediately after the Joint Committee meeting in question, the Commission sent the Council a document setting out the particulars of the envisaged Union position on the intended changes.

(5) The envisaged Union position was approved by the Council in accordance with point 3 of the Annex to Decision 2013/785/EU.

(6) The outcome of the Joint Committee meeting held in Brussels from 25 to 27 October 2017 concerning the change to the quota, to the monthly catch ceiling and to the catch composition by category 6 species group has been confirmed by Exchange of Letters between the Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests and the European Commission.

(7) Those amendments should be approved on behalf of the European Union,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The amendments to fishing datasheet No 6 of the Protocol between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Kingdom of Morocco, adopted by the Joint Committee established by Article 10 of the Agreement via the Exchange of Letters as set out in the Annex to this Decision, are hereby approved on behalf of the Union.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels, 12 March 2018. For the Commission The President Jean-Claude JUNCKER

(1) OJ L 349, 21.12.2013, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 141, 29.5.2006, p. 4.

(3) Council Regulation (EC) No 764/2006 of 22 May 2006 on the conclusion of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Kingdom of Morocco (OJ L 141, 29.5.2006, p. 1).

(4) OJ L 328, 7.12.2013, p. 2.