PURPOSE: to conclude the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2008/780/EC on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement.

CONTENT: the Council approved, on behalf of the Community, the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA).

The Agreement, signed in 2006, establishes a new regional fisheries management organisation responsible for ensuring the conservation and management of Non-Tuna species in the high seas of the Southern Indian Ocean.

The Community has fishing interests in the South Indian Ocean and is also a Coastal State on behalf of the Reunion Island. Furthermore, under the terms of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Community is obliged to cooperate with other relevant stakeholders in the management and conservation of the resources in this region. That is why the Agreement is approved on behalf of the Community.

A specific procedure is provided for to enable this instrument to enter into force for all the signatory parties.

The European Parliament adopted by 646 votes to 26 with 14 abstentions, a legislative resolution under the consultation procedure, making one amendment to the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement. The report had been tabled for consideration in plenary by Philippe MORILLON (ALDE, FR) on behalf of the Committee on Fisheries.

Parliament changed the legal base to the second subparagraph of Article 300(3) from a reference to the first subparagraph. It accepted advice from the Legal Affairs Committee that this was a case of the assent procedure rather than the consultation procedure, since a specific institutional framework was being laid down in the international agreement concerned (establishment of subsidiary bodies which will take important decisions).

The Committee on Fisheries adopted a report drafted by Philippe MORILLON (ALDE, FR) and made one amendment to the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement. It changed the legal base to the second subparagraph of Article 300(3) from a reference to the first subparagraph. The committee requested and accepted advice form the Legal Affairs Committee that this was a case of the assent procedure rather than the consultation procedure, since a specific institutional framework was being laid down in the international agreement concerned (establishment of subsidiary bodies which will take important decisions).

PURPOSE: to conclude the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

BACKGROUND: In 2000, the South Indian Ocean fishing states together with FAO took the initiative to launch the process for the setting up of a new regional fisheries organisation (Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement).

In November 2000, the Commission was mandated by the Council to participate in the negotiations of this Agreement on behalf of the Community. After five Intergovernmental Conferences, interested parties reached agreement on a draft Fisheries Agreement. After a review, the final text was opened for signature at a Diplomatic Conference held in Rome on 7 July 2006.

The Community, through its active participation in the negotiations of the text, ensured that the text of the SIOFA Agreement reflects the latest legal international developments in international fisheries legislation. This new RFMO (Regional Fisheries Management Organisation) will exercise its responsibilities for the effective conservation and management of Non-Tuna species in the high seas of the Southern Indian Ocean according to the principles and standards laid down in the Law of the Sea.

CONTENT: bearing in mind that the Community has fishing interests in the South Indian Ocean and is also a Coastal State on behalf of the Reunion Island, Community participation in the SIOFA agreement is highly recommended.

That is why the Community signed the SIOFA Agreement on 7 July 2006, in conformity with the Council Decision No. 2006/496/EC adopted by the Council on 6 July 2006. The Community should therefore proceed to conclude the SIOFA Agreement.

That is precisely the purpose of this proposal, which aims to conclude the SIOFA Agreement in order to become full member of said agreement.

The Agreement shall enter into force ninety days from the date of receipt by the Depositary of the fourth instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval, provided that at least two of such instruments are deposited by States bordering the Area.

The text of the Agreement is attached to the Decision.

PURPOSE: to conclude the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

BACKGROUND: In 2000, the South Indian Ocean fishing states together with FAO took the initiative to launch the process for the setting up of a new regional fisheries organisation (Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement).

In November 2000, the Commission was mandated by the Council to participate in the negotiations of this Agreement on behalf of the Community. After five Intergovernmental Conferences, interested parties reached agreement on a draft Fisheries Agreement. After a review, the final text was opened for signature at a Diplomatic Conference held in Rome on 7 July 2006.

The Community, through its active participation in the negotiations of the text, ensured that the text of the SIOFA Agreement reflects the latest legal international developments in international fisheries legislation. This new RFMO (Regional Fisheries Management Organisation) will exercise its responsibilities for the effective conservation and management of Non-Tuna species in the high seas of the Southern Indian Ocean according to the principles and standards laid down in the Law of the Sea.

CONTENT: bearing in mind that the Community has fishing interests in the South Indian Ocean and is also a Coastal State on behalf of the Reunion Island, Community participation in the SIOFA agreement is highly recommended.

That is why the Community signed the SIOFA Agreement on 7 July 2006, in conformity with the Council Decision No. 2006/496/EC adopted by the Council on 6 July 2006. The Community should therefore proceed to conclude the SIOFA Agreement.

That is precisely the purpose of this proposal, which aims to conclude the SIOFA Agreement in order to become full member of said agreement.

The Agreement shall enter into force ninety days from the date of receipt by the Depositary of the fourth instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval, provided that at least two of such instruments are deposited by States bordering the Area.

The text of the Agreement is attached to the Decision.