Considerations on COM(2021)587 - Signing and provisional application of the Sustainable fisheries agreement with Mauritania and the Implementing Protocol thereto

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dossier COM(2021)587 - Signing and provisional application of the Sustainable fisheries agreement with Mauritania and the Implementing Protocol ...
document COM(2021)587 EN
date November 11, 2021
 
table>(1)The Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (‘Mauritania’), approved by Council Regulation (EC) No 1801/2006 (1), has been applied on a provisional basis since 8 August 2008. The Protocol thereto setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Agreement, which has been applied on a provisional basis since the same day, has been replaced several times.
(2)The Protocol currently in force will expire on 15 November 2021.

(3)On 8 July 2019, the Council adopted a Decision authorising the Commission to open negotiations with Mauritania with a view to concluding a new sustainable fisheries partnership agreement and a new protocol implementing that agreement.

(4)Between September 2019 and July 2021, eight rounds of negotiations were held with Mauritania. Following those negotiations, the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (‘the Partnership Agreement’) and the Implementing Protocol thereto (‘the Protocol’) were initialled on 28 July 2021.

(5)The objectives of the Partnership Agreement and the Protocol are to enable Union vessels to fish in Mauritanian waters and to enable the Union and Mauritania to work closely together to further promote the development of a sustainable fisheries policy and the responsible exploitation of fisheries resources in the Mauritanian fishing zone and the Atlantic Ocean, in line with the objective of conservation of marine biological resources recognised in Union law. This cooperation will also contribute to decent working conditions in the fisheries sector.

(6)The Partnership Agreement and the Protocol should be signed.

(7)The Partnership Agreement and the Protocol should enter into force as soon as possible in view of the economic importance of Union fishing activities in the Mauritanian fishing zone and the need to avoid or to reduce as far as possible the duration of any interruption of those activities.

(8)The Partnership Agreement and the Protocol should be applied on a provisional basis pending the completion of the procedures necessary for their entry into force.

(9)The European Data Protection Supervisor was consulted in accordance with Article 42 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2) and delivered an opinion on 14 October 2021,