RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL to authorise the Commission to open negotiations on behalf of the European Union for the renewal of the protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with Guinea Bissau
Date: 2010-07-20
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: European Union, Guinea-Bissau, catch quota, fishing agreement, fishing rights

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EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Brussels, 20.7.2010 
SEC(2010) 914 final 

RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL 

to authorise the Commission to open negotiations on behalf of the European Union for 
the renewal of the protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with Guinea Bissau 

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RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL 

to authorise the Commission to open negotiations on behalf of the European Union for 
the renewal of the protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with Guinea Bissau 

A. 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

The European Union and the Republic of Guinea Bissau have concluded a protocol 
to the fisheries agreement1 which was initialled by the two parties on 23 May 2007 and 
entered into force on 18 March 2008. The protocol, which grants fishing opportunities 
for the EU vessels and fixes the financial counterpart, will expire on 15 June 2011. 

The  Commission  proposes  to  negotiate  a  new  protocol  that  meets  the  actual 
possibilities and needs of the Member States fleet and is in line with the July 2004 
Council guidelines on fisheries partnership agreements.  

The  Council  is  asked  to  adopt  the  negotiation  guidelines  attached  to  this 
recommendation. 

B. 

RECOMMENDATION 

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

–  The Council authorises the Commission to open and conduct negotiations for the 
renewal  of  the  protocol  in  the  framework  of  the  fisheries  partnership  agreement 
with the Republic of Guinea Bissau; 

–  The Commission is nominated as the Union negotiator for this subject; 

–  The Commission shall conduct such negotiations in consultation with the special 
committee pursuant to the provisions laid down in the Treaty on the functioning of 
the European Union; 

–  The Council approves the negotiation guidelines attached to this recommendation. 

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Council Regulation (EC) n°241/2008 of 17 March 2008 – OJ L 75 of 18 March 2008 

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ANNEX 

Negotiation guidelines 

–  The  objective  of  the  negotiations  is  the  renewal  of  the  protocol  in  the  framework  of  the 
Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Guinea 
Bissau,  in  line  with  the  15  July  2004  Council  conclusions  on  fisheries  partnership 
agreements based on the Commission's communication of 23 December 2002, and giving 
consideration to the human rights situation in the country. 

–  This  protocol  shall  include  a  clause  about  consequences  in  cases  of  violation  of  human 

rights and democratic principles. 

–  With  a  view  to  ensuring  through  this  new  protocol,  the  promotion  of  sustainable  and 
responsible  fisheries,  the  Commission's  negotiation  objectives  will  be  based  on  the 
following:  

•  Ensuring access to the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Republic of Guinea 
Bissau  and  the  necessary  authorisations  for  the  vessels  of  the  European  fleet  to 
carry out fishing activities in the aforesaid EEZ; 

•  Duly taking into account the best available scientific advice;  

•  Ensuring that access to fisheries resources is based on the same criteria that apply 
to the current protocol and on the evolutions observed during the past few years; 

•  Strengthening  dialogue  on  sector  policy  with  a  view  to  encouraging  the 
implementation of a responsible fisheries policy, consistent with the development 
objectives  of  the  country,  in  particular  with  regard  to  monitoring,  control  and 
surveillance  of  fishing  activities,  fisheries  resource  management,  and  improved 
hygiene standards of fisheries products. 

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