Decision No 1/2025 of the Partnership Council established by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part of 18 June 2025 issuing an interpretation of Article 508(2)(d) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part [2025/1229]
Date: 2025-06-18
Institutions: EU–United Kingdom Joint Committee
Subjects: EAEC, United Kingdom, conservation of resources, cooperation agreement (EU), fishery management, fishing rights, sea fishing, sustainable fisheries, trade agreement, trade agreement (EU)








L_202501229EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
L series













2025/1229


20.6.2025







            DECISION No 1/2025 OF THE PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL ESTABLISHED BY THE TRADE AND COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE EUROPEAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMUNITY, OF THE ONE PART, AND THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND, OF THE OTHER PART
         
of 18 June 2025
         
issuing an interpretation of Article 508(2)(d) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part [2025/1229]


THE PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL,

Having regard to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part (‘the Agreement’), and in particular Article 519(b) thereof,

Whereas:







(1)


The adjustment period provided for in Annex 38 to the Agreement, during which each Party grants to vessels of the other Party full access to its waters to fish, ends on 30 June 2026.












(2)


In accordance with Article 500(1) of the Agreement, which applies after 30 June 2026, each Party is to grant vessels of the other Party access to fish in its waters in the relevant ICES sub-areas for the relevant year at a level and on conditions determined in the annual consultations, provided that TACs have been agreed.












(3)


The Parties wish to provide for multiannual full access to waters to fish for a specified time period after June 2026.












(4)


Article 508(2)(b) in conjunction with Article 508(1)(l) of the Agreement empowers the Specialised Committee on Fisheries to adopt decisions on the development of guidelines to support the practical application of Article 500 of the Agreement. Moreover, Article 508(2)(d) of the Agreement empowers that Committee to adopt decisions in relation to any other aspect of cooperation on sustainable fisheries management.












(5)


It is appropriate, in that context, to issue an interpretation of Article 508(2)(d) of the Agreement to clarify the basis on which the Specialised Committee on Fisheries may adopt such a Decision,





HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:



Article 1
The term ‘cooperation on sustainable fisheries management’ in Article 508(2)(d) of the Agreement shall be interpreted, solely for the purpose of that provision, as including the adopting of a decision by the Specialised Committee on Fisheries to provide for multiannual full access to waters to fish for a specified time period which is to be considered for the purposes of Article 500(1) and (4) of the Agreement as the agreed outcome of annual consultations (including in the case of access under Article 500(5) of the Agreement in the event that provisional TACs are set under Article 499 of the Agreement).


Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.




Done at Brussels and London, 18 June 2025.


For the Partnership Council


The Co-Chairs

Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ
            
Nick THOMAS-SYMONDS
            





ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1229/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)