Commission recommendation authorising the Commission to open negotiations on behalf of the European Union for the renewal of the Protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Federated States of Micronesia
Date: 2010-03-29
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Micronesia, cooperation agreement (EU), fishing agreement, negotiation of an agreement (EU), protocol to an agreement

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EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Brussels, 29.3.2010 
COM(2010)116 final 

COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 

authorising the Commission to open negotiations on behalf of the European Union for 
the renewal of the Protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Federated 
States of Micronesia 

(presented by the Commission) 

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COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 

authorising the Commission to open negotiations on behalf of the European Union for 
the renewal of the Protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Federated 
States of Micronesia 

1. 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

The  European  Union  and  the  Federated  States  of  Micronesia  concluded  a  Fisheries 
Partnership  Agreement1  on  25  April  2006,  the  Protocol  to  which,  setting  out  the  fishing 
opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Agreement, entered into force 
on 26 February 2007 and expired on 25 February 2010. 

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 
Council Conclusions of 2004 on Fisheries Partnership Agreements. 

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

2. 

RECOMMENDATION 

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

–  the  Council  authorise  the  Commission  to  open  and  conduct  negotiations  with  a  view  to 
renewing the Protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Federated States of 
Micronesia;  

–  the Commission be appointed negotiator in the matter; 

–  the  Commission  conduct  the  negotiations  in  consultation  with  a  special  committee  in 

accordance with the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union; 

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

1 

Regulation (EC) No 805/2006 of 25 April 2006, OJ L 151, 6.6.2006, p. 1. 

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ANNEX 

Negotiating instructions 

The negotiations are aimed at renewing the Protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement 
between the European Union and the Federated States of Micronesia in light of the Council 
Conclusions  of  15 July  2004  based  on  the  Commission  Communication  of  23 December 
2002. 

With a view to promoting responsible and sustainable fishing through the new Protocol, the 
Commission is to base those negotiations on the following objectives: 

–  access to the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Federated States of Micronesia and 
the  requisite  authorisations  for  European  Union  fleet  vessels  to  fish  for  tuna  in  the  said 
EEZ; 

–  taking account of the best available scientific advice;  

–  ensuring the level of access to the resource, on the basis of the parameters defined in the 

current Protocol and trends noted in recent years; 

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

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