Draft Commission recommendation of […] 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 Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe
Date: 2010-04-07
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: São Tomé and Príncipe, cooperation agreement (EU), fishing agreement, fishing regulations, negotiation of an agreement (EU), protocol to an agreement, sustainable development

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EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Brussels, 7.4.2010 
COM(2010)131 final 

Draft 

COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 

of […] 

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 Democratic 
Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe 

(presented by the Commission) 

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Draft 

COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 

of […] 

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 Democratic 
Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe 

1. 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

The  European  Union  and  the  Democratic  Republic  of  São  Tomé  and  Príncipe  concluded  a 
Fisheries  Partnership  Agreement1  on  23  July  2007,  the  Protocol  to  which,  setting  out  the 
fishing  opportunities  and  the  financial  contribution  provided  for  by  the  Agreement,  entered 
into force on 1 June 2006 and expires on 31 May 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. Initialling a new Protocol 
before  the  date  of  expiry  of  the  existing  Protocol  would  allow  fishing  activities  to  continue 
without interruption.  

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  Democratic 
Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe;  

–  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.  

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Regulation (EC) No 894/2007 of 23 July 2007, OJ L 205, 7.8.2007, p. 35. 

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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  Democratic  Republic  of  São  Tomé  and 
Príncipe  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 Democratic Republic  of São Tomé 
and Príncipe 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, in particular as regards the quantities that 
may be fished, the number of fishing authorisations available, etc.; 

–  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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