Proposal for a Council Decision on the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters on the extension of the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of the Republic of Angola on fishing off the coast of Angola for the period from 3 May to 2 August 2002
Date: 2002-07-09
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Angola, agreement (EU), catch quota, financial equalisation, fishing agreement, fishing area, fishing regulations, fishing season

29.10.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 262 E/425

Proposal for a Council Decision on the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange
of Letters on the extension of the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial
contribution provided for by the Agreement between the European Economic Community and
the Government of the Republic of Angola on fishing off the coast of Angola for the period from
3 May to 2 August 2002

(2002/C 262 E/30)

COM(2002) 368 final

(Submitted by the Commission on 9 July 2002)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

The Protocol to the Fisheries Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Angola
expired on 2 May 2002. Pending the conclusion of the negotiations on the amendments to be made to the
Protocol to the Fisheries Agreement, the two parties have decided to extend the expired Protocol for a
further three months. The extension of the Protocol was initialled by both parties on 26 April 2002 and
sets out the technical and financial conditions governing the fishing activities of Community vessels in
Angolan waters during the period from 3 May 2002 to 2 August 2002.

The Commission proposes, on this basis, that the Council adopt the draft extension of the Protocol by
decision, pending its definitive entry into force.

A proposal for a Council Regulation on the period of extension of the Protocol is the subject of a separate
procedure.

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

(5) The allocation of

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

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

into

entered

(1) The European Community and the Republic of Angola
have
any
negotiations
amendments or additions to be made to the Agreement
between the European Economic Community and the
Government of the Republic of Angola on fishing off the
coast of Angola at the end of the period of application of
the Protocol annexed thereto.

determine

to

Member States under
confirmed,

the fishing opportunities among the
the expired Protocol should be

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

the

The European Community shall sign the Agreement in the
the
form of an Exchange of Letters on the extension of
and the
setting out
Protocol
compensation provided for by the Agreement
financial
between the
and the
Government of the Republic of Angola on fishing off the
coast of Angola for the period from 3 May 2002 to 2
August 2002.

European Economic Community

fishing opportunities

(2) During the negotiations, the two Parties decided to extend
the current Protocol for three months by means of an
Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters initialled
on 26 April 2002, pending the
the
negotiations on the amendments to be made to the
Protocol.

conclusion of

(3) Under the Exchange of Letters, Community fishermen have
fishing opportunities in the waters under the sovereignty or
jurisdiction of the Republic of Angola for the period from
3 May 2002 to 2 August 2002.

(4) To avoid an interruption of

the fishing activities of
Community vessels, the extension must be applied at the
earliest opportunity, provided that
there is a definitive
decision under Article 37 of the Treaty.

The text of the Agreement is annexed to this Decision.

Article 2

The Agreement referred to in Article 1 shall be provisionally
applicable by the European Community from 3 May 2002.

Article 3

The fishing opportunities established pro rata temporis by Article
1 shall be allocated among the Member States as follows:

— shrimp vessels:

— Spain: 6 550 GRT per month, averaged over the year,

22 vessels;

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— demersal fishing vessels:

— Portugal: 5 vessels

— Spain: 1 650 GRT per month, averaged over the year,

— Spain: 20 vessels

— Portugal: 1 000 GRT per month, averaged over the

— pelagic fishing vessels:

year,

— Italy: 650 GRT per month, averaged over the year,

— Greece: 450 GRT per month, averaged over the year,

— freezer tuna seiners:

— France: 7 vessels

— Spain: 11 vessels

— surface longliners:

— Ireland: 2 vessels.

the fishing opportunities

If licence applications from these Member States do not cover
the
all
Commission may take into consideration licence applications
from any other Member State.

fixed by the Protocol,

Article 4

The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate
the persons empowered to sign the Agreement in the form of
an Exchange of Letters in order to bind the Community.

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AGREEMENT

in the form of an Exchange of Letters on the extension of the Protocol setting out the fishing
opportunities and the financial contribution provided for in the agreement between the European
Economic Community and the Government of the Republic of Angola on fishing off the coast of
Angola for the period from 3 May 2002 to 2 August 2002

Sirs,

A. Letter from the Community

I have the honour to confirm that we agree to the following interim arrangements for the extension of the
Fisheries Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Angola and the European Economic
Community, pending the conclusion of the negotiations on a new Protocol:

1. The arrangements applicable over the last two years will be extended for the period from 3 May to 2
August 2002. The Community's financial contribution under the interim arrangements will correspond
pro rata temporis to that provided for in Article 2 of the Protocol currently in force. Payment will be
made no later than 31 December 2002.

2. During the interim period,

licences will be issued within the limits laid down in Article 1 of the
Protocol currently in force on payment of fees or advances corresponding pro rata temporis to those
laid down in point 2 of Annex A to the Protocol. The maximum catches laid down for shrimp vessels
in Article 1 of the Protocol currently in force will apply pro rata temporis during the interim period.

I should be obliged if you would acknowledge receipt of this letter and confirm the agreement of the
Government of the Republic of Angola with its contents.

Please accept, Sirs, the assurance of my highest consideration.

On behalf of the European Community

B. Letter from the Government of the Republic of Angola

Sirs,

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

‘I have the honour to confirm that we agree to the following interim arrangements for the extension of
the Fisheries Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Angola and the European
Economic Community, pending the conclusion of the negotiations on a new Protocol:

1. The arrangements applicable over the last two years will be extended for the period from 3 May to
2 August 2002. The Community's financial contribution under the interim arrangements will
correspond pro rata temporis to that provided for in Article 2 of the Protocol currently in force.
Payment will be made no later than 31 December 2002.

2. During the interim period, licences will be issued within the limits laid down in Article 1 of the
Protocol currently in force on payment of fees or advances corresponding pro rata temporis to those
laid down in point 2 of Annex A to the Protocol. The maximum catches laid down for shrimp
vessels in Article 1 of the Protocol currently in force will apply pro rata temporis during the interim
period.

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I should be obliged if you would acknowledge receipt of this letter and confirm the agreement of the
Government of the Republic of Angola with its contents.’

I have the honour to confirm that the Government of the Republic of Angola accepts the proposed
in accordance with your
arrangements and that your letter and this letter constitute an agreement
proposal.

Please accept, Sirs, the assurance of my highest consideration.

For the Government of the Republic of Angola