Proposal for a Council Decision on the signature by the European Community of the Convention on the conservation and management of fishery resources in the South East Atlantic Ocean
Date: 2000-12-05
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Atlantic Ocean, conservation of fish stocks, fishery management, fishery resources, international convention

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 5.12.2000
COM(2000) 807 final

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the signature by the European Community of the Convention on the conservation
and management of fishery resources in the South East Atlantic Ocean

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

In 1997, the South East Atlantic coastal states took the initiative to launch the process of
setting up a new regional fisheries organisation (South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation);
the text of the new Convention should be finalised in November 2000.

The European Community has fishing interests in the South East Atlantic and is therefore
obliged, under the terms of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, to cooperate with other
interested parties in the management and conservation of the region’s resources.

The Community has participated in this process from the start and has played an active and
constructive role. After a final meeting of the editorial group, to be held on 11 November the
Convention will be open for signature at a Diplomatic Conference, the precise date of which
must still be determined.

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Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the signature by the European Community of the Convention on the conservation
and management of fishery resources in the South East Atlantic Ocean

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular the first
sentence of Article 300(2) thereof;

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission1,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

The Community is competent to adopt measures for the conservation and management
of
into agreements with other countries and
international organisations.

fisheries resources and to enter

The Community is a Contracting Party to the United Nations Convention on the Law
of the Sea, which requires all members of the international community to co-operate in
conserving and managing the sea’s biological resources.

The Community has signed the Agreement on the implementation of the provisions of
the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982, relating
to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory
Fish Stocks.

The sixth meeting of the coastal States and other parties interested in the future
Convention on the conservation and management of fishery resources in the South
East Atlantic Ocean presented a draft Convention which may still be subject to
editorial changes before it is formally adopted.

The objective of this Convention is to ensure the long-term conservation and
sustainable use of the fishery resources in the Convention Area through the effective
implementation of the Convention.

Community fishermen fish stocks in the Convention Area and it is in the Community’s
interest
is
therefore necessary for the Community to accede to the Convention.

to play an effective role in the implementation of the Convention. It

1

OJ C , , p. .

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HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Sole Article

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to
sign, on behalf of the Community, the Convention on the conservation and management of
fishery resources in the South East Atlantic Ocean.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President

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