Proposal for a Council Decision on the conclusion of an Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters concerning the shortening by one year of the duration of the Agreement on relations in the sea fisheries sector between the European Economic Community and the Kingdom of Morocco

(95/C 259/06)

COM(95) 378 final - 95/0195(CNS)

(Submitted by the Commission on 19 July 1995)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 43 taken together with the first subparagraph of Article 223 (3) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,

Whereas Article 15 (2) of the Agreement on relations in the sea fisheries sector between the European Economic Community and the Kingdom of Morocco, concluded in 1992 for a period of four years, provides for a mid-term review;

Whereas in the framework of that review the two parties agreed on 13 October 1994 to limit the duration of the Agreement to midnight on 30 April 1995 and to enter into the necessary negotiations at the earliest opportunity with a view to the possible conclusion of a new agreement for a period of three years from 1 May 1995,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters concerning the shortening by one year of the duration of the Agreement on relations on the sea fisheries sector between the European Economic Community and the Kingdom of Morocco is hereby approved on behalf of the Community.

The text of the Agreement is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The President of the Council is hereby authorized to designate the persons empowered to sign the Agreement in order to bind the Community.

Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters on the termination of the Agreement on relations in the sea fisheries sector between the European Economic Community and the Kingdom of Morocco initialled at Brussels on 15 May 1992

A. Letter from the Community

Sir,

I have the honour to refer to the Agreement on relations in the sea fisheries sector between the European Economic Community and the Kingdom of Morocco, initialled at Brussels on 15 May 1992 and to the minutes of the mid-term review meeting held in Brussels on 13 October 1994.

At that meeting the two parties agreed to terminate the validity of the present Agreement at midnight on 30 April 1995 and to enter into negotiations at the earliest opportunity on the possible conclusion of a new agreement for a period of three years from 1 May 1995.

The European Community hereby confirms that it agrees to limit the duration of the present Agreement to midnight on 30 April 1995 and that it is willing to negotiate a new agreement to enter into force as soon as possible.

I should be obliged if you would acknowledge receipt of this letter and confirm your agreement with its contents.

On behalf of the Council of the European Union

B. Letter from the Government of Morocco

Sir,

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of today's date, which reads as follows:

'Sir,

I have the honour to refer to the Agreement on relations in the sea fisheries sector between the European Economic Community and the Kingdom of Morocco, initialled at Brussels on 15 May 1992 and to the minutes of the mid-term review meeting held in Brussels on 13 October 1994.

At that meeting the two parties agreed to terminate the validity of the present Agreement at midnight on 30 April 1995 and to enter into negotiations at the earliest opportunity on the possible conclusion of a new agreement for a period of three years from 1 May 1995.

The European Community hereby confirms that it agrees to limit the duration of the present Agreement to midnight on 30 April 1995 and that it is willing to negotiate a new agreement to enter into force as soon as possible.

I should be obliged if you would acknowledge receipt of this letter and confirm your agreement with its contents.`

I have the honour to confirm that the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco agrees to limit the duration of the present Agreement to midnight on 30 April 1995 and that it is willing to negotiate a new agreement to enter into force as soon as possible.

For the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco