EN    EN EN 
EN    EN  EUROPEAN COMMISSION 
Brussels, 22.12.2010 
SEC(2010) 1593 final 
  
RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CO MMISSION TO THE COUNCIL 
to authorize the Commission to open negotia tions on behalf of the European Union for 
the renewal of the protocol to the Fisheri es Partnership Agreement with Mozambique 
 
EN 2   EN RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CO MMISSION TO THE COUNCIL 
to authorize the Commission to open negotia tions on behalf of the European Union for 
the renewal of the protocol to the Fisheri es Partnership Agreement with Mozambique 
1. EXPLANATORY  MEMORANDUM   
The European Union and the Republic of Mo zambique have concluded a protocol to the 
fisheries partnership agreement1, which was initialled by the two parties on 21 December 2006 
and has been applied with effect from 1 Janu ary 2007. The protocol, which grants fishing 
opportunities for the EU vessels and fixes th e financial counterpart, will expire on 31 
December 2011. 
The Commission proposes to negotiate a new protoc ol that meets the actu al possibilities and 
needs of the Member States fleet and is in  line with the July 2004 Council guidelines on 
fisheries partnership agreements.  
The Council is asked to adopt the negotiation guidelines attach ed to this recommendation.  
2. RECOMMENDATION 
In the light of the above, the Commission recommends that:  
– The Council authorises the Commission to ope n and conduct negotiations for the renewal 
of the protocol in the framework of the fish eries partnership agreement with the Republic 
of Mozambique,  
– The Commission is nominated as the Union negotiator for this subject; 
– The Commission shall conduct such negotiati ons in consultation with the special 
committee pursuant to the provisions laid dow n in the Treaty on the functioning of the 
European Union; 
– The Council approves the negotiation guideli nes attached to this recommendation.  
                                                 
1 Council Decision 2007/798/EC  of 22 November 2007 – OJ  L 331 of 17 December 2007. 
 
EN 3   EN ANNEX  
Negotiation guidelines  
– The objective of the negotiations is the renewa l of the protocol in the framework of the 
Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of 
Mozambique, in line with the 15 July 2004 C ouncil conclusions on fisheries partnership 
agreements based on the Commission's commu nication of 23 December 2002, and giving 
consideration to the human righ ts situation in the country. 
– This protocol shall include a clause about co nsequences in cases of violation of human 
rights and democratic principles. 
– With a view to ensuring through this new pr otocol, the promotion of sustainable and 
responsible fisheries, the Commission's ne gotiation objectives wi ll be based on the 
following:  
• Ensuring access to the exclusive econom ic zone (EEZ) of the Republic of 
Mozambique and the necessary authorisations  for the vessels of the European fleet 
to carry out fishing activiti es in the aforesaid EEZ; 
• Duly taking into account the best  available scientific advice;  
• Ensuring that access to fisheries resources is based on the same criteria that apply 
to the current protocol and on the evoluti ons observed during the past few years; 
• Strengthening dialogue on sector policy with a view to encouraging the 
implementation of a responsible fisheries policy, consistent with the development 
objectives of the country, in particular with regard to monitoring, control and 
surveillance of fishing activities, fish eries resource management, and improved 
hygiene standards of fisheries products. 
•