PURPOSE: to approve the Amendment to the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries.

ACT: Council Decision 2010/717/EU on the approval, on behalf of the European Union, of the Amendment to the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries (International Agreement).

CONTENT: the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries, was signed in Ottawa on 24 October 1978 and entered into force on 1 January 1979, thereby establishing the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO).

The General Council of NAFO adopted the Amendment to the Convention at its Annual Meetings in 2007 and 2008. The Amendment revises many aspects of the Convention with the primary purpose of bringing it more into line with other more recent regional conventions and international instruments within the field of fisheries and incorporating modern concepts of fisheries management.

The Amendment contributes to the fulfilment by the Union of its international obligations in relation to sustainable fisheries as well as to furthering the objectives of the Treaty.

Under this Decision, the Amendment to the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in Northwest Atlantic Fisheries is hereby approved on behalf of the Union.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 08/11/2010.

Decision 2010/717
OJ L 321 07.12.2010, p. 0001

The European Parliament adopted a legislative resolution in which it consented to the approval of the Amendment to the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries.

In parallel, Parliament requested the Council and the Commission to set up, before negotiations are opened relating to the revision of provisions in the framework of the Regional Fisheries Organisations to be carried out by the EU, the schemes necessary to ensure the appropriate participation by Parliament's observers therein.

T7-0364/2010

Debate in Parliament

A7-0262/2010

A7-0262/2010

The Committee on Fisheries unanimously adopted the report drafted by Jarosław Leszek WAŁĘSA (EPP, PL) recommending that the European Parliament consent to the approval of the Amendment to the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries.

In parallel, Members request the Council and the Commission to set up, before negotiations are opened relating to the revision of provisions in the framework of the Regional Fisheries Organisations to be carried out by the EU, the schemes necessary to ensure the appropriate participation by Parliament's observers therein.

PE448.665

PURPOSE: to approve the Amendment to the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in Northwest Atlantic Fisheries.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

BACKGROUND: the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries (the Convention), was signed in Ottawa on 24 October 1978 and entered into force on 1 January 1979. The European Economic Community acceded to the Convention on 28 December 1978 through Council Regulation (EEC) No 3179/78. The Convention established the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO), a Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (RFMO), with the aim of promoting the conservation and optimum utilisation of fisheries resources of the Northwest Atlantic within a framework appropriate to the regime of extended Coastal State jurisdiction over fisheries, and accordingly of encouraging international co-operation and consultations with respect to resources.

The Contracting Parties to the Convention adopted the "Amendment to the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries" (the Amendment) at the Annual Meetings of NAFO in 2007 (English version) and in 2008 (French version). In the light of the fishing possibilities accruing to the EU under the Convention, it is in the EU's interest to approve the proposed Amendment to the Convention, while Council Regulation (EEC) No 3179/78 concerning the conclusion by the EEC of the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries will remain in force for the provisions of the Convention that are maintained unchanged.

LEGAL BASE: Article 43(2), in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU.

CONTENT: this proposal concerns the approval of the Amendment to the Convention on behalf of the European Union.

The Amendment revises the Convention comprehensively with the primary purpose of making it more in line with other regional Conventions and international instruments and of incorporating modern concepts on fisheries management. The Amendment thus streamlines the structure of the organisation, introduces clear definitions of the responsibilities of Contracting Parties, Flag States and Port States, provides for a more coherent decision making process and modernises the contribution formula for the NAFO budget.

Lastly, the Amendment provides for a dispute settlement mechanism in case disputes arise between Contracting Parties.

The Council is requested to adopt this proposal as soon as possible following the consent of the European Parliament.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: this proposal has no implications for the EU budget.

11076/2010

PURPOSE: to approve the Amendment to the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in Northwest Atlantic Fisheries.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

BACKGROUND: the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries (the Convention), was signed in Ottawa on 24 October 1978 and entered into force on 1 January 1979. The European Economic Community acceded to the Convention on 28 December 1978 through Council Regulation (EEC) No 3179/78. The Convention established the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO), a Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (RFMO), with the aim of promoting the conservation and optimum utilisation of fisheries resources of the Northwest Atlantic within a framework appropriate to the regime of extended Coastal State jurisdiction over fisheries, and accordingly of encouraging international co-operation and consultations with respect to resources.

The Contracting Parties to the Convention adopted the "Amendment to the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries" (the Amendment) at the Annual Meetings of NAFO in 2007 (English version) and in 2008 (French version). In the light of the fishing possibilities accruing to the EU under the Convention, it is in the EU's interest to approve the proposed Amendment to the Convention, while Council Regulation (EEC) No 3179/78 concerning the conclusion by the EEC of the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries will remain in force for the provisions of the Convention that are maintained unchanged.

LEGAL BASE: Article 43(2), in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU.

CONTENT: this proposal concerns the approval of the Amendment to the Convention on behalf of the European Union.

The Amendment revises the Convention comprehensively with the primary purpose of making it more in line with other regional Conventions and international instruments and of incorporating modern concepts on fisheries management. The Amendment thus streamlines the structure of the organisation, introduces clear definitions of the responsibilities of Contracting Parties, Flag States and Port States, provides for a more coherent decision making process and modernises the contribution formula for the NAFO budget.

Lastly, the Amendment provides for a dispute settlement mechanism in case disputes arise between Contracting Parties.

The Council is requested to adopt this proposal as soon as possible following the consent of the European Parliament.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: this proposal has no implications for the EU budget.

11076/2010

PE441.261

PURPOSE: the approval, on behalf of the European Union, of amendments to the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries (NAFO).

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

LEGAL BASE: Article 43 (2), in conjunction with Article 218 (6), point a) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

CONTENT: the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries was signed in Ottawa on 24 October 1978 and entered into force on 1 January 1979. The European Economic Community acceded to the Convention on 28 December 1978 by means of Council Regulation 3179/78/EEC.

The Convention established the North Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO) which is a regional fisheries management organisation the objective of which is:

to promote the conservation and optimum utilisation of the fishery resources of the North-East Atlantic area within a framework appropriate to the regime of extended coastal State jurisdiction over fisheries, and, accordingly, to encourage international co-operation and consultation with respect to these resources.

Amendment : the parties to the Convention adopted the ‘amendment’ to the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries at NAFO annual meetings in 2007 and 2008. The amendment involves a detailed revision of the convention the primary purpose of which is to align it more closely to other regional conventions and international instruments and to incorporate in it modern concepts on fisheries management . In this way, the objective and the general principles of the convention have been revised and extended so as to guarantee the long-term sustainability of fishery resources rather than their optimal utilisation in the Convention Area. In so doing, the Amendment would ensure that marine ecosystems in which these resources are found would be safeguarded and the contracting parties would bear in mind the precautionary principle and take account of the relationship between all components of the ecosystem thus conserving marine biodiversity.

The Amendment would:

rationalise the structure of the organisation (in particular, the two decision-making bodies of the current structure, the General Council and the Fisheries Commission have been merged into one body, introduce clear definitions of responsibilities of contracting parties, flag states and port states, provide for a more coherent decision-making process in order bring more clarity as regards the obligations of Contracting Parties wishing to make an objection to Conservation and management measures adopted by NAFO, modernise the budget contribution formula to reflect the user pay principle in relation to the services provided to the Contracting Parties of NAFO, establish a new dispute settlement procedure to allow the expeditious settlement of disputes between parties.

In the light of the fishing possibilities accruing to the European Union under the Convention, it is in the EU's interest to approve the proposed Amendment to the Convention , while Council Regulation (EEC) No 3179/78 should remain in force for the provisions of the Convention that are maintained unchanged.

The purpose of this proposal is the approval of the Amendment to the Convention on behalf of the European Union, following the consent of the European Parliament .

BUDGETARY IMPACT: the proposal does not have an impact on the EU’s budget.

COM(2010)0075
EUR-Lex