CELEX: 52010SC1593
Language: en
Date: 2010-12-22 00:00:00
Title: 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

EN
EN    EN
 ---pagebreak---                     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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 ---pagebreak---             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.
   1
            Council Decision 2007/798/EC of 22 November 2007 – OJ L 331 of 17 December 2007.
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 ---pagebreak---                                                 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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