International Agreements in Progress: Towards a fisheries agreement with Kenya

A series of Briefings from the European Parliamentary Research Service which looks at EU actions in a series of policy areas. This follows up a public opinion survey organised by Eurobarometer for the European Parliament in April 2016 which asked the question: Would you like the EU to intervene less than at present or more than at present for the following policy areas?

Terrorism / Unemployment / Tax fraud / Migration / Borders / Democracy / Environment / Security and defence / Health / Gender equality / Energy / Economy / Foreign policy / Agriculture / Industrial policyIn July 2016, the Council of the European Union adopted a decision authorising the European Commission to begin negotiations, on behalf of the EU, for the conclusion of a fisheries agreement and protocol with Kenya. The negotiations were planned for the coming months of 2017.

This would be the first ever EU fisheries agreement with Kenya, and would complement the regional network of agreements previously concluded in the western Indian Ocean (Seychelles, Madagascar, Mozambique, Comoros and Mauritius). The agreements allow the EU fleet to pursue tuna migration in the waters of the countries concerned, in exchange for a financial contribution covering access to their waters and support for their fisheries sector.

The EU tuna fleet in the region includes vessels from Spain, France, Portugal, the United Kingdom and Italy. While some of the activities of these vessels take place in the framework of EU fisheries agreements, they also operate, to a significant extent, in the high seas. In addition, a number of them also have access to the waters of third countries with which the EU does not have fisheries agreements, on the basis of private agreements. This is the case of Kenya's waters, where EU vessels have long had access through annual authorisations provided by the Kenyan authorities.

Author: Irina Popescu

ESO: Background information: Expanding the network of EU tuna fisheries agreements (EPRS: Briefing, July 2016) http://www.europeansources.info/record/expanding-the-network-of-eu-tuna-fisheries-agreements/

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