CELEX: 52010SC0914
Language: en
Date: 2010-07-20 00:00:00
Title: 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

EN
EN    EN
 ---pagebreak---                     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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 ---pagebreak---            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.
   1
           Council Regulation (EC) n°241/2008 of 17 March 2008 – OJ L 75 of 18 March 2008
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   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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