to authorise the Commission to open negotiations on behalf of the European Union for the conclusion of a Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement and a protocol with the Republic of Seychelles

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1.CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL

•Reasons for and objectives of the proposal

The Commission proposes to negotiate a new Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement and a new protocol with the Republic of Seychelles, which both meet the needs of the Union fleet and are in line with Regulation (EU) No1380/2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the 19 March 2012 Council Conclusions on a Communication from the Commission on the External dimension of the Common Fisheries Policy.

•Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area

The current Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) between the European Union and Seychelles was signed on 28 February 2007 and entered into force on 2 November 2007 for a duration of 6 years. The agreement is tacitly renewable, and currently applies until 1 November 2019. It is hereby proposed to negotiate a new Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement in order to integrate some provisions included in Regulation (EU) No1380/2013, which are not covered by the current FPA. The current 6-year Protocol to the FPA entered into application on 18th January 2014 and will expire on 17th January 2020. This Protocol fixes the fishing opportunities provided to the Union fleet and the corresponding financial contribution paid by the Union and the ship-owners. The annual EU public financial contribution due to Seychelles amounts to 5 000 000 EUR, out of which 2 500 000 are earmarked for sectoral support.

The FPA with Seychelles provides fishing opportunities targeting tuna and highly migratory species for EU vessels from 4 Member States (Spain, France, Italy and Portugal). The European Union has already developed a network of bilateral Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements (SFPAs) in the Indian Ocean, namely with Mauritius and Madagascar.

SFPAs contribute to promote the objectives of the CFP internationally, ensuring that Union fishing activities outside Union waters are based on the same principles and standards as those applicable under Union law and promoting the sustainable management of oceans in all its dimensions. In addition, SFPAs foster scientific cooperation between the EU and its partner, promote transparency and sustainability for a better management of fishing resources and encourage governance by supporting monitoring, control and surveillance of national and foreign fleets' activities and providing funding to fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. SFPAs contribute also to the sustainable development of local fishing industry and to the promotion of growth and decent work linked to fishing activities. SFPAs strengthen the European Union’s position in international and regional fishing organisations: in the case of Seychelles, in particular in the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC).

•Consistency with other Union policies

The negotiation of a new Agreement and protocol with Seychelles is in line with the EU’s external action towards African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, and in particular with the Union objectives regarding the respect of democratic principles and human rights.

2.LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY

•Legal basis

The legal basis for the decision is provided by Article 218 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), in Part Five on the Union’s external action, Title V on international agreements, which sets out the procedure for negotiating and concluding agreements between the EU and third countries.

•Subsidiarity (for non-exclusive competence)

Not applicable, exclusive competence.

•Proportionality