Recommendation from the Commission to the Council authorising the Commission to open negotiations on behalf of the Community with a view to concluding a Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Republic of Guinea
Date: 2008-12-03
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Guinea, Union for the Mediterranean, deep-sea fishing, fisheries policy, fishery management

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COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 3.12.2008 
COM(2008) 835 final 

RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL 

authorising the Commission to open negotiations on behalf of the Community with a 
view to concluding a Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Republic of Guinea 

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RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL 

authorising the Commission to open negotiations on behalf of the Community with a 
view to concluding a Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Republic of Guinea 

1. 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

On  28  March  1983  the  Community  and  the  Republic  of  Guinea  concluded  a  Fisheries 
Agreement on fishing off the Guinean coast1; the most recent Protocol2 thereto, which entered 
into force on 26 April 2004, defining the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution 
provided for in the Agreement, is due to expire on 31 December 2008.  

The  Commission  proposes  negotiating  a  new  Protocol  which  is  more  in  line  with  the 
opportunities  and  recognised  requirements  of  Member  States'  fleets,  in  accordance  with  the 
2004  Council  Conclusions  on  Fisheries  Partnership  Agreements.  Initialling  a  new  Protocol 
before  the  date  of  expiry  of  the  existing  Protocol  would  allow  fishing  activities  to  continue 
without interruption. 

In addition, in order to take account of the 2004 Council Conclusions on Fisheries Partnership 
Agreements,  a  new  Fisheries  Partnership  Agreement  should  be  negotiated  to  replace  the 
existing Fisheries Agreement with the Republic of Guinea.  

The  Council  is  accordingly  requested  to  approve  the  negotiating  instructions  in  the  Annex 
hereto.  

2. 

RECOMMENDATION 

In the light of the above, the Commission consequently recommends that: 

–  the  Council  authorise  the  Commission  to  open  and  conduct  negotiations  with  a 
view  to  concluding  a  Fisheries  Partnership  Agreement  with  the  Republic  of 
Guinea;  

–  the  Commission  conduct  those  negotiations  in  accordance  with  the  Treaty 

establishing the European Community; 

–  the Council approve the negotiating instructions in the Annex hereto.  

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Council Regulation (EC) No 971/83 of 28 March 1983 (OJ L 111, 27.4.1983, p. 1). 
Council Regulation (EC) No 830/2004 of 26 April 2004 on the conclusion of the Protocol defining for 
the period 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2008 the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution 
provided for in the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of the 
Republic of Guinea on fishing off the Guinean coast (OJ L 127, 29.4.2004, p. 31). 

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Done at Brussels,  

For the Commission 

Member of the Commission 

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Negotiating instructions 

ANNEX  

The  negotiations  are  aimed  at  concluding  a  Fisheries  Partnership  Agreement  between  the 
Community  and  the  Republic  of  Guinea  in  accordance  with  the  Council  Conclusions  of 
15 July 2004 based on the Commission Communication of 23 December 2002.  

With  a  view  to  promoting  responsible  fishing  and  sustainable  fisheries  through  that 
Partnership  Agreement,  the  Commission  will  base  those  negotiations  on  the  following 
objectives: 

–  define  fishing  opportunities  for  Community  vessels,  taking  account  of  the  use 
actually  made  of  fishing  opportunities  by  operators  under  the  existing  Protocol, 
the future prospects for fishing activities, the state of resources and the Republic 
of Guinea’s capacity for implementing a sustainable resource management policy; 

–  take account of the best available scientific advice; 

–  reinforce the dialogue on sectoral policy in order to encourage the implementation 
of  a  responsible  fisheries  policy,  in  keeping  with  the  country’s  development 
objectives,  particularly  as  regards  fisheries  control  and  surveillance,  resource 
management and improving the health and hygiene conditions of fishery products. 

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