PURPOSE: the conclusion of a protocol setting out the
fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in
the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community
on the one hand, and the Government of Denmark and the Home Rule
Government of Greenland, on the other.
PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.
ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the
act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.
BACKGROUND: on the basis of a mandate granted to it by
the Council, the European Commission on behalf of the Union
negotiated with the Government of Denmark and Government of
Greenland in view of renewing the Protocol to the Fisheries
Partnership Agreement between the European Union and these two
territorial entities.
Following these negotiations, a new Protocol was
initialled on 20 March 2015.
The new Protocol is in line with the objectives of the
Fisheries Partnership Agreement, strengthens the cooperation
between the Union and Greenland and promotes a partnership
framework in which to develop a sustainable fisheries policy and
responsible exploitation of fishery resources in the Greenlandic
fishing zone in the interest of both Parties.
CONTENT: with this proposal for a Decision, the
Commission proposes the conclusion of a protocol setting out the
fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in
the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community
on the one hand, and the Government of Denmark and the Home Rule
Government of Greenland, on the other.
Period of application: the Fishing Protocol would cover a period of five
years from the date of provisional application i.e. from the
date of its signature and from 1 January 2016 at the
earliest.
Fishing opportunities: the Protocol grants fishing opportunities to Union
vessels in the fishing zone of Greenland, in line with relevant
conservation and management measures and within the limits of the
available surplus.
To this effect, the protocol sets an indicative annual
level of fishing opportunities granted by Greenland (in tonnes) to
Union vessels by species:
- cod;
- pelagic redfish;
- demersal redfish;
- halibut;
- northern prawn;
- capelin;
- grenadier;
- by-catch (catches of all marine living organisms where
these are not mentioned as target species on the fishing
authorization of the vessel or do not meet the minimum size
requirements; these are limited to a rate of 5% in the Northern
prawn fisheries and 10% in other fisheries.
Following results to be assessed by the ICES Advisory
Committee on the ongoing investigations and surveys at sea carried
out on the different components of Atlantic cod (Gadus
morhua) in Greenland waters and more particularly on spawners
located West Greenland inshore, West Greenland offshore and East
Greenland offshore, the Joint Committee may revise or adjust the
indicative fishing opportunities for cod.
Financial contribution: the Protocol provides for a total annual financial
contribution of EUR 17.799.978 per year for its
duration.
This amount corresponds to:
- EUR 13.168.978 per year for the access to the
Greenlandic fishing zone,
- EUR 2.931.000 per year, corresponding to the
additional envelope paid by the EU in support of Greenland's
fisheries policy and
- EUR 1.700.000 as an annual reserve for additional and
new fishing opportunities that may be accepted by the EU subject to
scientific advice and surplus resources.
The two Parties have agreed to cooperate to implement
Greenlandic sectorial fisheries policy and to that end shall
continue the policy dialogue on the relevant
programming.
Specific provisions: provision is made for the setting of principles for
responsible fisheries management. Provision is also made for an
experimental fisheries programme for species not included in the
protocol, as well as scientific cooperation on sustainable fishery
exploitation.