Considerations on COM(2020)598 - Signing and provisional application of the Agreement with the Cook Islands concerning an extension of the Protocol on the implementation of the Sustainable fisheries agreement

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dossier COM(2020)598 - Signing and provisional application of the Agreement with the Cook Islands concerning an extension of the Protocol on the ...
document COM(2020)598 EN
date October 19, 2020
 
table>(1)The Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the Cook Islands (1) (‘the Agreement’), approved by Council Decision (EU) 2017/418 (2), entered into force on 10 May 2017. The Protocol on the implementation of the Agreement (3) (‘the Protocol’) has been applied since 14 October 2016 (4) for a period of four years.
(2)The Protocol is set to expire on 13 October 2020.

(3)On 7 July 2020, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the Government of the Cook Islands for the conclusion of a new Protocol implementing the Agreement.

(4)Pending completion of the negotiations on the renewal of the Protocol, the Commission negotiated, on behalf of the Union, an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Government of the Cook Islands concerning an extension of the Protocol on the implementation of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the Cook Islands (‘Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters’) for a maximum period of one year. The negotiations were concluded successfully and the Exchange of Letters was initialled on 29 July 2020.

(5)The aim of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters is to enable the Union and the Government of the Cook Islands to continue working together to promote a sustainable fisheries policy and the sound exploitation of fisheries resources in the Cook Islands’ waters, and to allow Union vessels to carry out their fishing activities in those waters.

(6)The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters should be signed on behalf of the Union, subject to its conclusion at a later date.

(7)To ensure the continuity of fishing activity by Union vessels in the Cook Islands’ waters, the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters should be applied on a provisional basis, pending the completion of the procedures necessary for its entry into force,