PURPOSE: to conclude a new fisheries protocol between the European Union and the Seychelles.

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2011/474/EU 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 Community and the Republic of Seychelles.

BACKGROUND: the European Union negotiated with the Seychelles a new Protocol to the Partnership Agreement, providing EU vessels with fishing opportunities in the waters over which Seychelles have sovereignty or jurisdiction in respect of fisheries. On conclusion of those negotiations, the Protocol was initialled on 3 June 2010 and was amended by an Exchange of Letters on 29 October 2010.

In accordance with Council Decision 2010/814/EU, the Protocol was signed on 20 December 2010 on behalf of the Union and is being provisionally applied.

It is now necessary to conclude the Protocol on behalf of the Union.

CONTENT: under this Decision, the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Seychelles is hereby approved on behalf of the Union.

The Protocol also sets out the main provisions:

Sustainable fishing : the new Protocol complies with the objectives of the Partnership Agreement in the fishing sector which seek to strengthen cooperation between the EU and the Seychelles and to promote a framework of partnership facilitating the development of a sustainable fishing policy and responsible exploitation of fishery resources in the Seychelles' fishing zone in the interests of both Parties.

The two Parties agreed to cooperate with a view to implementing Seychelles' sectoral fisheries policy and to that end shall continue the policy dialogue on the relevant programming.

Financial contribution : the new Protocol provides for a total financial contribution of EUR 16.8 million for the whole period.

This amount corresponds to:

EUR 3 380 000 per year equivalent to an annual reference tonnage of 52 000 tonnes, and EUR 2 220 000 per year, corresponding to the additional envelop paid by the EU to support Seychelles' fisheries and maritime policy.

Fishing opportunities : this Protocol also provides annual authorisations to fish in the Seychelles' fishing zone for 48 purse seine vessels and 12 longliners . These opportunities may be increased. Thus, if the volume of annual catches exceeds 52 000 tonnes, the amount of the financial contribution is increased proportionately at the rate of EUR 65/tonne, but it may not exceed EUR 6.76 million per year.

Duration : the a new Protocol covers a period of three years starting form the adoption of the Council decision on the Protocol's signing and provisional application and after expiry of the current Protocol, on 17 January 2011.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: the Decision will enter into force on 28 July 2011. The date of entry into force of the Protocol will be published in the Official Journal of the European.

Decision 2011/474
OJ L 196 28.07.2011, p. 0001

Results of vote in Parliament

The European Parliament adopted a legislative resolution 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 Community and the Seychelles.

Parliament gives its consent to the conclusion of the Protocol.

In the interests of transparency, Parliament asks to be better informed about the work carried out by the Joint Committee. In this regard, it requests that the Commission send them the conclusions of the meetings and proceedings of the Joint Committee that is provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Seychelles and the multiannual sectoral programme mentioned in the Protocol.

Parliament also calls for representatives of its Committee on Fisheries, acting as observers, to attend meetings of the Joint Committee. It also calls on the Commission to submit an implementation review of the Partnership Agreement to Parliament and the Council in the final year of application of the Protocol, before negotiations are opened on the agreement’s renewal.

Lastly, Parliament asks the Commission for a report on piracy in the Seychelles exclusive economic zone between 2006 and 2010 and its effect on Seychelles and EU fishing operations.

T7-0279/2011

A7-0192/2011

A7-0192/2011

The Committee on Fisheries adopted the recommendation drafted by Alain CADEC (EPP, FR) in which it calls on the European Parliament to give its consent to the conclusion of the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Seychelles.

In the interests of transparency, Members ask to be better informed about the work carried out by the Joint Committee. In this regard, they request that the Commission send them the conclusions of the meetings and proceedings of the Joint Committee that is provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Seychelles and the multiannual sectoral programme mentioned in the Protocol. Members also call for representatives of its Committee on Fisheries, acting as observers, to attend meetings of the Joint Committee.

The committee calls on the Commission to submit an implementation review of the Partnership Agreement to Parliament and the Council in the final year of application of the Protocol, before negotiations are opened on the agreement’s renewal.

Lastly, Members ask the Commission for a report on piracy in the Seychelles exclusive economic zone between 2006 and 2010 and its effect on Seychelles and EU fishing operations.

PE458.616

PE458.582

PE460.600

PURPOSE: to conclude the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Seychelles.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

BACKGROUND: on 5 October 2006, the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 1562/2006 concerning the conclusion of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Seychelles. The European Union negotiated with the Republic of Seychelles a new Protocol to the Partnership Agreement, providing EU vessels with fishing opportunities in the waters over which Seychelles have sovereignty or jurisdiction in respect of fisheries.

On conclusion of those negotiations, the Protocol was initialled on 3 June 2010 and was amended by an Exchange of Letters on 29 October 2010. It was signed on behalf of the Union and is being provisionally applied.

It is now necessary to approve the negotiated Protocol on behalf of the EU.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT: no impact assessment was carried out.

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

CONTENT: with this proposal, the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Seychelles is hereby approved on behalf of the Union, subject to the European Parliament’s consent.

For further details on the main elements of the Protocol, please refer to the summary of the previous initial legislative document dated 25/11/2010.

17238/2010

17237/2010

PURPOSE: to conclude the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Seychelles.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

BACKGROUND: on 5 October 2006, the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 1562/2006 concerning the conclusion of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Seychelles. The European Union negotiated with the Republic of Seychelles a new Protocol to the Partnership Agreement, providing EU vessels with fishing opportunities in the waters over which Seychelles have sovereignty or jurisdiction in respect of fisheries.

On conclusion of those negotiations, the Protocol was initialled on 3 June 2010 and was amended by an Exchange of Letters on 29 October 2010. It was signed on behalf of the Union and is being provisionally applied.

It is now necessary to approve the negotiated Protocol on behalf of the EU.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT: no impact assessment was carried out.

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

CONTENT: with this proposal, the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Seychelles is hereby approved on behalf of the Union, subject to the European Parliament’s consent.

For further details on the main elements of the Protocol, please refer to the summary of the previous initial legislative document dated 25/11/2010.

17238/2010

PURPOSE: the conclusion of a new fisheries protocol between the European Union and the Seychelles.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

BACKGROUND: on the basis of a Council mandate, the Commission on behalf of the European Union negotiated with the Republic of Seychelles in view of renewing the Protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Seychelles. Following these negotiations, a new Protocol was initialled on the 3 June 2010 and amended by exchange of letters on 29 October 2010. It covers a period of three years starting form the adoption of the Council decision on the Protocol's signing and provisional application and after expiry of the current Protocol, on 17 January 2011.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT: no impact analysis was carried out.

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

CONTENT: this proposal for a Decision relates to the conclusion of a new Protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the EU and the Seychelles.

Sustainable fishing : the new Protocol complies with the objectives of the Partnership Agreement in the fishing sector which seek to strengthen cooperation between the EU and the Seychelles and to promote a framework of partnership facilitating the development of a sustainable fishing policy and responsible exploitation of fishery resources in the Seychelles' fishing zone in the interests of both Parties.

The two Parties agreed to cooperate with a view to implementing Seychelles' sectoral fisheries policy and to that end shall continue the policy dialogue on the relevant programming.

Financial contribution : the new Protocol provides for a total financial contribution of EUR 16 800 000 for the whole period, i.e. a period of three years starting form the adoption of the Council decision on the Protocol's signing and provisional application and after expiry of the current Protocol, on 17 January 2011.

This amount corresponds to:

EUR 3 380 000 per year equivalent to an annual reference tonnage of 52 000 tonnes, and EUR 2 220 000 per year, corresponding to the additional envelop paid by the EU to support Seychelles' fisheries and maritime policy.

Fishing opportunities : this Protocol also provides annual authorisations to fish in the Seychelles' fishing zone for 48 purse seine vessels and 12 longliners . These opportunities may be increased. Thus, if the volume of annual catches exceeds 52 000 tonnes, the amount of the financial contribution is increased proportionately at the rate of EUR 65/tonne, but it may not exceed EUR 6 760 000 per year.

However, the total annual amount to be paid by the European Union cannot exceed a sum more than double the amount of the financial contribution for which provision is made.

Duration : a new Protocol was initialled on the 3 June 2010 and amended by exchange of letters on 29 October 2010. It covers a period of three years starting form the adoption of the Council decision on the Protocol's signing and provisional application and after expiry of the current Protocol, on 17 January 2011.

It should be noted that this procedure is launched in parallel with the procedures regarding the Council Decision, on the Protocol's signing on behalf of the European Union and its provisional application, and the Council Regulation concerning the allocation of the fishing opportunities among the Member States under this Protocol.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATION: the total financial allocation for this fisheries Protocol will be EUR 17.1739 million over the period 2011-2013, including administrative expenditure for the management of the protocol and human resources.

The advances and fees payable by shipowners to the Seychelles represent:

purse seiners : a flat rate amount of EUR 61 000 per vessel per year payable in two instalments: 50% at the time of application of fishing authorisation and 50% within 100 days after the start of the validity period of the fishing authorisation. long liners : vessels above 250 GRT: EUR 4 200 equivalent to EUR 35 per tonne for 120 tonnes of tuna and tuna-like species; vessels below 250 GRT: EUR 3 150 equivalent to EUR 35 per tonne for 90 tonnes of tuna and tuna-like species.

These advances and fees have no impact on the EU’s budget.

COM(2010)0690
EUR-Lex