PURPOSE: the conclusion of
the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the
financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership
Agreement between the European Union and the Democratic Republic of
São Tomé and Príncipe.
PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.
ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the
act only if Parliament has given its consent.
BACKGROUND: on the basis of a mandate given by the
Council, the Commission negotiated the renewal of the Protocol to
the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Union and São
Tomé and Príncipe.
At the end of the negotiations a new draft protocol
was initialled by the negotiators on 19 December 2013.
LEGAL BASIS: Article 43(2) of the Treaty on the
Functioning of the European Union, in conjunction with Article
218(6)(a) and the seventh subparagraph of Article 218(7)
thereof.
CONTENT: under this proposal, the Council is called
upon to approve on behalf of the European Union the Protocol to the
Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Democratic Republic of
São Tomé and Príncipe.
Objectives: the main
purpose of the Protocol to the Agreement is to grant fishing
opportunities to European Union vessels in São Toméan
waters, in compliance with the best scientific opinions available
and the recommendations of the International Commission for the
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), within the limits of the
available surplus. The Commission based itself in part on the
results of an ex-post evaluation of the previous Protocol carried out
by external experts.
The aim is also to strengthen cooperation between the
European Union and the Democratic Republic of São Tomé
and Príncipe with a view to establishing a sustainable
fisheries policy and sound exploitation of fisheries resources in
the São Toméan fishing zone, in the interests of both
parties.
Financial contribution: the overall financial contribution under the Protocol
is EUR 2 805 000 over 4 years It comprises:
·
an annual amount for access to the EEZ of
São Tomé and Príncipe of EUR 385 000 for the first
three years and EUR 350 000 for the fourth year, equivalent to a
reference tonnage of 7 000 tonnes per year, and
·
a specific amount of EUR 325 000 per year for
four years to support the implementation of the sectoral fisheries
policy of São Tomé and Príncipe (small-scale fishing
and the monitoring, control and combating of illegal, unreported
and unregulated (IUU) fishing).
If the overall annual quantity of catches by European
Union vessels in São Toméan waters exceeds the annual
reference tonnage, the total amount of the annual financial
contribution shall be increased by EUR 55 for the first three years
and EUR 50 for the fourth year for each additional tonne
caught.
However, the total annual amount paid by the European
Union shall not be more than twice the amount indicated in the
protocol. Where the quantities caught by European Union vessels
exceed quantities corresponding to twice the total annual amount,
the amount due for the quantity exceeding that limit shall be paid
the following year.
Fishing opportunities: the protocol provides for fishing opportunities in the
following categories:
·
28 tuna seiners
·
6 surface longliners for fishing
highly-migratory species listed in Annex 1 to the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982) to be caught, with the
exception of species protected or prohibited by ICCAT.
New fishing possibilities: as regards the operation of fisheries not covered by
this Protocol, the authorities of São Tomé and
Príncipe may call on the European Union to consider the
possibility of such fisheries, on the basis of the results of a
scientific campaign taking account of best scientific advice
endorsed by scientific experts representing both parties. The
parties shall then agree on the conditions applicable to these new
fishing opportunities, if necessary.
Duration of the agreement: the protocol will last four
years from the date of its signature.
BUDGETARY IMPACT: the annual financial contribution is
EUR 710 000 for the first three years and EUR 675 000 for the
fourth year, based on the reference tonnage indicated in the
protocol.