PURPOSE: to conclude a Co-operation Agreement between the Community and Russia on fisheries and the conservation of marine resources in the Baltic Sea.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Regulation (EC) No 439/2009 concerning the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and the Government of the Russian Federation on cooperation in fisheries and the conservation of the living marine resources in the Baltic Sea

CONTENT: this Regulation approves, on behalf of the EC, the Agreement between the European Community and the Russian Federation on cooperation in fisheries and the conservation of the living marine resources in the Baltic Sea.

The objective of the Agreement is to ensure a close cooperation between the Parties on the basis of the principle of equitable and mutual benefit for the purpose of conservation, sustainable exploitation and management of any straddling, associated and dependent stocks in the Baltic Sea. The Agreement lays down the principles and procedures relating to the close cooperation between the Parties with the purpose of ensuring that the exploitation of the straddling, associated and dependent stocks in the Baltic Sea provides sustainable economic, environmental and social conditions. The Parties will base their cooperation on the best scientific advice available and on any other relevant data, apply the precautionary approach and will agree to develop an eco-system based approach to fisheries management.

Provisions have been put in place for:

joint management measures; licensing arrangements; compliance with conservation and management measures and other fisheries regulations; co-operation on control and enforcement measures; inspections; the arrest and detention of vessels; and scientific co-operation on anadromous and catadromous species.

To achieve these objectives, a Joint Baltic Sea Fisheries Committee will be established, which will meet once a year and which will act as an important forum for scientific advice on the status of fish stocks in the Baltic Seas as well as fisheries management.

According to Article 1 of the Gdansk Convention, the Parties should cooperate closely with a view to preserving and increasing the living resources of the Baltic Sea and the Belts and obtaining the optimum yield, and, in particular to expanding and coordinating studies towards these ends.

Duration : the Agreement will remain in force for an initial period of 6 years after the date of its entry into force. In the event that it is not terminated by either Party through notice of termination given at least 9 months before the expiry of that period, it will remain in force for additional periods of 3 years duration thereafter, provided that notice of termination has not been given at least 9 months before the expiry of any such period. At the date of entry into force of the Agreement, it will supersede the existing bilateral fisheries Agreements between Member States and the Russian Federation. The Gdansk Convention will cease to be applied on 1 January 2007.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: the Regulation shall enter into force on 04/06/2009.

Regulation 2009/439
OJ L 129 28.05.2009, p. 0001

SP(2007)3179

Results of vote in Parliament

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Philippe MORILLON (ALDE, FR) by 570 votes in favour to 9 against with 11 abstentions and approved the draft regulation aiming to conclude a fishing agreement with Russia, subject to one amendment. (Please see the preceding summary.) This stated that, during the third and last years of application of the Agreement, prior to the opening of negotiations on its possible renewal, the Commission must submit to the European Parliament and to the Council general assessment reports analysing the impact of the Agreement on the conservation of resources and the protection of the environment, and the economic and social repercussions of its application.

T6-0186/2007

A6-0160/2007

A6-0160/2007

The Committee on Fisheries adopted the report by Mr Philippe MORILLON (ALDE, FR) approving the draft regulation aiming to conclude a fishing agreement with Russia.

The only amendments proposed by the Parliamentary committee concern improving transparency and keeping the Parliament better informed about the implementation of the agreement.

Therefore, prior to the opening of negotiations on its possible renewal, the committee asks the Commission to submit to the European Parliament and to the Council, general assessment reports analysing the impact of the agreement on the conservation of resources and the protection of the environment and the economic and social repercussions of its application.

PE384.417

PURPOSE: the conclusion of a Co-operation Agreement between the Community and Russia on fisheries and the conservation of marine resources in the Baltic Sea.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Regulation.

BACKGROUND: the Commission is seeking approval for an Agreement between the European Community and the Russian Federation on co-operation in fisheries and the conservation of living marine resources in the Baltic Sea , which was initialled on 28 July 2006 by the Community and on 7 August 2006 by the Russian Federation.

The new framework Agreement is confined to the Baltic Sea; the Russian Federation, at this stage, preferring not to extend the geographical scope of the Agreement beyond the Baltic. Provisions are in place that would allow for a possible extension should this be desirable at some future date. Any extension of the Agreement’s geographical scope would, however, require a new or amended mandate in order to negotiate fishing rights for Russian vessels in Community waters outside of the Baltic Sea. Since the Gdansk Convention will cease to apply as from 1 January 2007, this new Agreement will replace both it and the existing bilateral fisheries Agreements between the Member States and the Russian Federation.

CONTENT: the main objective of the new Agreement is:

- to ensure close co-operation between both Parties based on the principle of equitable and mutual benefit for the purpose conservation, sustainable exploitation and the management of all straddling, associated and dependent stocks in the Baltic Sea.

Provisions have been put in place for:

- joint management measures;

- licensing arrangements;

- compliance with conservation and management measures and other fisheries regulations;

- co-operation on control and enforcement measures;

- inspections;

- the arrest and detention of vessels; and

- scientific co-operation on anadromous and catadromous species.

To achieve these objectives, a Joint Baltic Sea Fisheries Committee will be established, which will meet once a year and which will act as an important forum for scientific advice on the status of fish stocks in the Baltic Seas as well as fisheries management.

The Agreement will not entail any changes to the current structure of the Community fleet in the Baltic Sea nor on the way shared stocks are managed. In addition, no changes are foreseen in the Community’s contribution to the ICES for scientific advice – currently 90.04% of the annual amount. Unless notice of termination is given, the Agreement should last for an initial period of six years.

COM(2006)0868
EUR-Lex

PURPOSE: the conclusion of a Co-operation Agreement between the Community and Russia on fisheries and the conservation of marine resources in the Baltic Sea.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Regulation.

BACKGROUND: the Commission is seeking approval for an Agreement between the European Community and the Russian Federation on co-operation in fisheries and the conservation of living marine resources in the Baltic Sea , which was initialled on 28 July 2006 by the Community and on 7 August 2006 by the Russian Federation.

The new framework Agreement is confined to the Baltic Sea; the Russian Federation, at this stage, preferring not to extend the geographical scope of the Agreement beyond the Baltic. Provisions are in place that would allow for a possible extension should this be desirable at some future date. Any extension of the Agreement’s geographical scope would, however, require a new or amended mandate in order to negotiate fishing rights for Russian vessels in Community waters outside of the Baltic Sea. Since the Gdansk Convention will cease to apply as from 1 January 2007, this new Agreement will replace both it and the existing bilateral fisheries Agreements between the Member States and the Russian Federation.

CONTENT: the main objective of the new Agreement is:

- to ensure close co-operation between both Parties based on the principle of equitable and mutual benefit for the purpose conservation, sustainable exploitation and the management of all straddling, associated and dependent stocks in the Baltic Sea.

Provisions have been put in place for:

- joint management measures;

- licensing arrangements;

- compliance with conservation and management measures and other fisheries regulations;

- co-operation on control and enforcement measures;

- inspections;

- the arrest and detention of vessels; and

- scientific co-operation on anadromous and catadromous species.

To achieve these objectives, a Joint Baltic Sea Fisheries Committee will be established, which will meet once a year and which will act as an important forum for scientific advice on the status of fish stocks in the Baltic Seas as well as fisheries management.

The Agreement will not entail any changes to the current structure of the Community fleet in the Baltic Sea nor on the way shared stocks are managed. In addition, no changes are foreseen in the Community’s contribution to the ICES for scientific advice – currently 90.04% of the annual amount. Unless notice of termination is given, the Agreement should last for an initial period of six years.

COM(2006)0868
EUR-Lex