EN Official Journal of the European Union L 69/34

COMMISSION DECISION (EU) 2017/451

of 14 March 2017

approving, on behalf of the European Union, certain amendments to 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

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

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

Having regard to 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 (1), and in particular Article 3 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Article 10 of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (2), hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’, approved by Council Regulation (EC) No 1801/2006 (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 and, consequently, of the financial contribution.

(2) Article 1(1) 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, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Protocol’, approved by Council Decision (EU) 2016/870 sets out the fishing opportunities under that agreement for a period of four years from 16 November 2015, and Article 2(1) of the Protocol sets out the annual financial contribution for access by European Union vessels to the Mauritanian fishing zone.

(3) The table referred to in Article 1(1) of the Protocol gives details about the fishing opportunities and states that, on the basis of available scientific advice, the two parties may agree within the Joint Committee on the allocation of fishing opportunities for freezer trawlers targeting demersal species in respect of which a surplus has been identified.

(4) The Joint Committee was to meet in Nouakchott on 15 and 16 November 2016 at an extraordinary session to adopt amendments to the fishing opportunities and the applicable conditions for the exercise of fishing activities, as well as the financial contribution, taking into account the EU's request to create a new fishing category for freezer trawlers targeting black hake.

(5) Prior to the Joint Committee meeting in question, the Commission sent a preparatory document setting out the particulars of the envisaged Union position to the Council.

(6) The envisaged Union position was approved by the Council in accordance with point 3 of the Annex to Council Decision (EU) 2016/870.

(7) The amendments adopted, namely the introduction of a new fishing category for freezer trawlers targeting black hake, the applicable fishing conditions for this new category, and the increase in the financial contribution for access, were recorded in Annex 5 to the minutes of the Joint Committee meeting in question of 15 and 16 November 2016.

(8) These amendments should be approved on behalf of the Union,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The amendments to 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, adopted by the Joint Committee established by Article 10 of that agreement in its meeting of 15 and 16 November 2016, and resulting from Annex 5 to the minutes, are hereby approved on behalf of the Union.

The text of Annex 5 to the minutes of the Joint Committee meeting of 15 and 16 November 2016 is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

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

Done at Brussels, 14 March 2017. For the Commission The President Jean-Claude JUNCKER

(1) OJ L 145, 2.6.2016, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 343, 8.12.2006, p. 4.

(3) 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).