2002/40/EC: Council Decision of 6 December 2001 on the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters concerning the provisional application of the Protocol establishing the fishing opportunities and the compensation provided for in the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau on fishing off the coast of Guinea-Bissau for the period 16 June 2001 to 15 June 2006

Council Decision
of 6 December 2001
on the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters concerning the provisional application of the Protocol establishing the fishing opportunities and the compensation provided for in the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau on fishing off the coast of Guinea-Bissau for the period 16 June 2001 to 15 June 2006
(2002/40/EC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 300(2) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Whereas:
(1) In accordance with the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau on fishing off the coast of Guinea Bissau(1), the Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau have conducted negotiations to determine any amendments or additions to be made to the Agreement at the end of the period of application of the Protocol annexed thereto.
(2) As a result of those negotiations, a new Protocol establishing the fishing opportunities and the compensation provided for in the Agreement was initialled on 30 May 2001.
(3) Under this Protocol, Community fishermen enjoy fishing opportunities in the waters falling within the sovereignty or jurisdiction of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau for the period from 16 June 2001 to 15 June 2006.
(4) In order to ensure uninterrupted fishing activities by Community vessels, it is essential that the new Protocol be applied as quickly as possible. For this reason, the two parties have initialled an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters providing for the provisional application of the initialled Protocol from 16 June 2001.
(5) The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters should be approved, pending a definitive decision under Article 37 of the Treaty.
(6) The method of allocating the fishing opportunities among the Member States should be defined on the basis of the traditional allocation of fishing opportunities under the Fisheries Agreement,