RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL to authorize the Commission to open negotiations on behalf of the European Union for the renewal of the protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with Mozambique
Date: 2010-12-22
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: European Union, Mozambique, fishery management, fishing agreement, fishing area, fishing rights, protocol to an agreement

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EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Brussels, 22.12.2010 
SEC(2010) 1593 final 

RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL 

to authorize the Commission to open negotiations on behalf of the European Union for 
the renewal of the protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with Mozambique 

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RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL 

to authorize the Commission to open negotiations on behalf of the European Union for 
the renewal of the protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with Mozambique 

1. 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM  

The  European  Union  and  the  Republic  of  Mozambique  have  concluded  a  protocol  to  the 
fisheries partnership agreement1, which was initialled by the two parties on 21 December 2006 
and  has  been  applied  with  effect  from  1  January  2007.  The  protocol,  which  grants  fishing 
opportunities  for  the  EU  vessels  and  fixes  the  financial  counterpart,  will  expire  on  31 
December 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.  

2. 

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 Mozambique,  

–  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 Decision 2007/798/EC of 22 November 2007 – OJ L 331 of 17 December 2007. 

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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 
Mozambique,  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 
Mozambique 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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