Proposal for a Council Decision on the conclusion of the Protocol between the European Union and the Republic of Kiribati, setting out opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community, on the one hand, and the Republic of Kiribati, on the other

On the basis of relevant Council mandate, the Commission on behalf of the European Union negotiated with the Republic of Kiribati in view of renewing the Protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Re public of Kiribati. Following these negotiations, a new Protocol was initialled on 3 June 2012, which covers a period of three years starting from 16 September 2012.

This procedure concerning the Council Decision on the conclusion of the new Protocol 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.

The Commission's negotiating position was based i.a. on the results of an ex-post evaluation study of the previous Protocol that was carried out by external experts in May 2012.

The new Protocol is in line with the objectives of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement aiming at strengthening the cooperation between the European Union and the Republic of Kiribati and promoting a partnership framework in which to develop a sustainable fisheries policy and responsible exploitation of fishery resources in the Kiribati’s EEZ in the interests of both Parties.

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

The new Protocol provides for a total financial contribution of EUR 1.325.000 per year for the whole period. This amount corresponds to:

a) EUR 975.000 per year for the access to the Kiribati's EEZ, and
b) EUR 350.000 per year, corresponding to the additional envelop paid by the EU to support of Kiribati's fisheries policy.

The Commission proposes, on this basis, that the Council, with the consent of the Parliament, adopts this Decision on the conclusion of this Protocol.

ESO: Background information: Proposal for a Council Decision on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and the provisional application of the 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 Republic of Kiribati, on the other http://www.europeansources.info/record/proposal-for-a-council-decision-on-the-signing-on-behalf-of-the-european-union-and-the-provisional-application-of-the-protocol-setting-out-the-fishing-opportunities-and-financial-contribution-provid/

EUR-Lex: COM(2012)468: Follow the progress of this document through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2012:468:FIN

ESO: Background information: Proposal for a Council Regulation on the allocation of fishing opportunities under the 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 Republic of Kiribati, on the other http://www.europeansources.info/record/proposal-for-a-council-regulation-on-the-allocation-of-fishing-opportunities-under-the-protocol-setting-out-the-fishing-opportunities-and-financial-contribution-provided-for-in-the-fisheries-partner-2/

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