PURPOSE: to conclude the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Mauritius.

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision (EU) 2018/754 on the conclusion of the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Mauritius.

CONTENT: the Council decided to approve, on behalf of the Union, the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Mauritius.

The first Protocol to the Agreement, concluded in 2014, expired on 27 January 2017. The new Protocol was signed on 8 December 2017, to cover a period of four years , subject to its conclusion at a later date. It shall be applied, on a provisional basis, from the date of its signature.

The objective of this Protocol is to enhance cooperation between the European Union and Mauritius to promote a sustainable fisheries policy, sound exploitation of fisheries resources in Mauritius waters and support Mauritius in the development of its sustainable ocean economy.

The Protocol opens fishing opportunities to 40 tuna seiners and 45 surface longliners and a maximum of 20 supply vessels to assist EU fishing vessels in their fishing activities.

The total financial contribution is set at EUR 2 300 000 for the entire period comprising:

an annual amount for access to Mauritius waters of EUR 220 000 equivalent to a reference tonnage of 4000 tonnes per year; a specific amount of EUR 220 000 per year for the support and implementation of Mauritius' sectoral fisheries policy; and an additional amount of EUR 135 000 to support the development of maritime policy and ocean economy.

If the annual catch level of EU fishing vessels exceeds the annual reference tonnage, the financial contribution for each additional tonne caught shall be EUR 55, but shall not exceed twice the planned annual amount of EUR 220 000. If this limit is exceeded, the additional amount shall be paid in the following year.

As part of the Protocol:

the Republic of Mauritius shall apply the same technical and conservation measures to all industrial fleets operating in its waters, in order to ensure a level playing field. At the same time, the Mauritius authorities shall provide the EU relevant information regarding foreign fishing activities in its waters; the EU and Mauritius shall implement this agreement in accordance with the Article 9 of the Cotonou Agreement as regard to the respect of human rights, democratic principle and rule of law; the Parties shall cooperate in the field of fight against legal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU).

The Agreement establishes a Joint Committee to monitor the implementation of the Agreement.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 27.5.2018.

The European Parliament adopted by 618 votes to 49, with 15 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of a Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Mauritius.

Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the protocol.

The Committee on Fisheries adopted the report by Norica NICOLAI (ALDE, RO) on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of a Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Mauritius.

The committee recommended that the European Parliament give its consent to the conclusion of the Protocol.

As recalled by the explanatory statement accompanying the recommendation, the first bilateral fishing agreement between EU and the Republic of Mauritius was done in 1989, and the latest fisheries Protocol started in 2014 and finished on 27 January 2017.

The latest Protocol covered and annual reference tonnage of 5 500t/year, for an annual financial contribution of EUR 660 000, out of which EUR 302 500 were for the support and implementation of the countries fisheries and maritime policy.

The ex post evaluation of the previous Protocol shows that both parties have benefited from this framework, with the Mauritian government utilising the EU funds for sectorial support, a better Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) protection and considerable progress in implementing its environmental policy and promoting sustainability. At the same time, the EU fleet has benefited from a more stable, predictable and clear framework.

The new Protocol, initialled on 26 April 2017 covers a period of four years, provides fishing opportunities for 40 tuna seiners and 45 surface long-liners, as well as a maximum of 20 supply vessels to assist the operations of the EU fishing vessels.

As part of the Protocol:

the Republic of Mauritius will apply the same technical and conservation measures to all industrial fleets operating in its waters, in order to ensure a level playing field. At the same time, the Mauritius authorities will provide the EU relevant information regarding foreign fishing activities in its waters; the EU and Mauritius will implement this agreement in accordance with the Article 9 of the Cotonou Agreement as regard to the respect of human rights, democratic principle and rule of law; the Parties will cooperate in the field of fight against legal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU).

The suspension can be initiated if one of the Parties does not comply with the provisions of the Protocol, if a breach of fundamental and human rights has occurred.

Mauritius has a continuously growing economy, with the fishing sector bringing approximately 1.4% of the GDP of the country. The country’s development plan of 2015 includes fishery and ocean economy as one of the main pillars, with due respect for long term management and sustainable exploitation of the marine environment.

PURPOSE: to conclude the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Mauritius.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

BACKGROUND: the first Protocol to the Agreement set out, for a period of three years, the fishing opportunities granted to Union vessels in the fishing zone under the sovereignty or jurisdiction of Mauritius and the financial contribution granted by the Union. The period of application of that Protocol expired on 27 January 2017.

In accordance with a Council Decision, a new Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Mauritius was signed, subject to its conclusion at a later date.

The Protocol has been applied on a provisional basis since the date of its signature.

It is now necessary to approve the Protocol.

CONTENT: with this proposed Decision, the Council is called on to approve, on behalf of the Union, the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Mauritius.

As a reminder, the main objective of the Protocol is to enhance cooperation between the Union and Mauritius to promote a sustainable fisheries policy and sound exploitation of fisheries resources in Mauritius waters and to support Mauritius in the development of its sustainable ocean economy.

Joint committee : the Agreement establishes a joint committee responsible for monitoring the application of the Agreement. Under the Protocol, the joint committee is able to approve certain amendments to the Protocol. In order to facilitate the approval of such amendments, the Commission should be empowered, subject to specific conditions, to approve them under a simplified procedure .

PURPOSE: to conclude the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Mauritius.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

BACKGROUND: the first Protocol to the Agreement set out, for a period of three years, the fishing opportunities granted to Union vessels in the fishing zone under the sovereignty or jurisdiction of Mauritius and the financial contribution granted by the Union. The period of application of that Protocol expired on 27 January 2017.

In accordance with a Council Decision, a new Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Mauritius was signed, subject to its conclusion at a later date.

The Protocol has been applied on a provisional basis since the date of its signature.

It is now necessary to approve the Protocol.

CONTENT: with this proposed Decision, the Council is called on to approve, on behalf of the Union, the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Mauritius.

As a reminder, the main objective of the Protocol is to enhance cooperation between the Union and Mauritius to promote a sustainable fisheries policy and sound exploitation of fisheries resources in Mauritius waters and to support Mauritius in the development of its sustainable ocean economy.

Joint committee : the Agreement establishes a joint committee responsible for monitoring the application of the Agreement. Under the Protocol, the joint committee is able to approve certain amendments to the Protocol. In order to facilitate the approval of such amendments, the Commission should be empowered, subject to specific conditions, to approve them under a simplified procedure .

PURPOSE: to conclude a new fisheries Protocol between the European Union and the Republic of Mauritius.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

BACKGROUND: the first Protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement set out, for a period of three years, the fishing opportunities granted to Union vessels in the fishing zone under the sovereignty or jurisdiction of Mauritius and the financial contribution granted by the European Union. The period of application of that Protocol expired on 27 January 2017.

A new protocol must now be approved on behalf of the Union.

CONTENT: the Commission proposes that the Council adopt a decision approving on behalf of the Union the new Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and Mauritius.

The objective of this Protocol is to enhance cooperation between the European Union and Mauritius to promote a sustainable fisheries policy , sound exploitation of fisheries resources in Mauritius waters and support Mauritius in the development of its sustainable ocean economy.

Fishing opportunities : the fishing opportunities granted for highly migratory species shall be as follows: 40 tuna seiners and 45 surface longliners .

Mauritius shall authorise a maximum of 20 supply vessels to assist in the operations of Union fishing vessels authorised in Mauritius waters unless the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) decides otherwise.

Financial contribution : the new Protocol shall provide a total financial contribution of EUR 2 300 000 for the entire period (2017-2021).

This total financial contribution shall comprise:

an annual amount for access to Mauritius waters of EUR 220 000 equivalent to a reference tonnage of 4000 tonnes per year; a specific amount of EUR 220 000 per year for the support and implementation of Mauritius' sectoral fisheries policy; and an additional amount of EUR 135 000 to support the development of maritime policy and ocean economy.

Duration : the Protocol shall apply, on a provisional basis, from the date of signature. It shall apply for a period of four years from the date of its provisional application.

Provision is made for possible suspensions.

The Agreement establishes the Joint Committee responsible for monitoring its implementation. It may approve certain amendments to the Protocol. In order to facilitate the approval of such amendments, the Commission should be empowered, subject to specific conditions, to approve them under a simplified procedure.