Proposal for a Council Decision on the conclusion of the Protocol agreed between the European Union and the Republic of Madagascar setting out fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the two parties currently in force

On the basis of a mandate from the Council, the European Commission has conducted negotiations with the Republic of Madagascar with a view to renewing the Protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Madagascar. At the end of those negotiations, a new Protocol was initialled on 10 May 2012. The new protocol covers a period of two years from the date of its signature.

The primary objective behind the Protocol is to define the fishing opportunities for tuna vessels from the European Union in the waters of Madagascar, in line with scientific advice and other resolutions issued by the relevant Regional Fisheries Organisation, namely the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC).

The overall aim is to reinforce cooperation between the European Union and the Republic of Madagascar, thereby consolidating the partnership framework within which to develop a sustainable fisheries policy and sound exploitation of fishery resources in Madagascar’s fishing zone, in the interests of both Parties.

Specifically, the protocol provides for fishing opportunities for 96 vessels, divided as follows:

– 40 tuna seiners
– 34 surface longliners with a tonnage greater than 100 GT
– 22 surface longliners with a tonnage less than 100 GT

The Commission proposes, on this basis, that the Council, with the consent of the Parliament, adopt this new Protocol by Decision.

• Primary Source

EUR-Lex: COM(2012)505: Follow the progress of this document through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2012:505:FIN

ESO: Background information: Proposal for a Council Decision on the signature, on behalf of the European Union, and on the provisional application of the Protocol agreed between the European Union and the Republic of Madagascar setting out fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the two parties currently in force http://www.europeansources.info/record/proposal-for-a-council-decision-on-the-signature-on-behalf-of-the-european-union-and-on-the-provisional-application-of-the-protocol-agreed-between-the-european-union-and-the-republic-of-madagascar-s/

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