COUNCIL DECISION
of 24 February 2011
on the signing, on behalf of the Union, and provisional application of the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe
(2011/296/EU)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 43 in conjunction with Article 218(5) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1)
On 23 July 2007, the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 894/2007 on the conclusion of a Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community (1) (the ‘Agreement’). A Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Agreement (2) (the ‘former Protocol’) was attached thereto. That former Protocol expired on 31 May 2010.
(2)
The Union therefore negotiated a new Protocol (the ‘Protocol’) setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, providing Union vessels with fishing opportunities in the waters over which the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe has sovereignty or jurisdiction in respect of fisheries.
(3)
As a result of those negotiations, the Protocol was initialled on 15 July 2010.
(4)
The Protocol should be applied provisionally from the date of its signing, as provided for in Article 13 thereof.
(5)
Given that the old Protocol has expired, and in order to guarantee a timely resumption of fishing activities by Union vessels, it is essential that the new Protocol be applied as quickly as possible.
(6)
The Protocol should therefore be signed and provisionally applied, pending the completion of the procedures necessary for is conclusion,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The signing of the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe (the ‘Protocol’) is hereby approved on behalf of the Union, subject to its conclusion.
The text of the Protocol is attached to this Decision.
Article 2
The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign the Protocol in order to bind the European Union, subject to its conclusion.
Article 3
The Protocol shall be applied provisionally from the date of its signing, as provided for in Article 13 thereof, pending the completion of the procedures necessary for is conclusion (3).
Article 4
This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.
Done at Brussels, 24 February 2011.