Considerations on COM(2022)576 - Signing and provisional application of an Agreement with Seychelles on access for Seychelles fishing vessels to the waters of Mayotte

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dossier COM(2022)576 - Signing and provisional application of an Agreement with Seychelles on access for Seychelles fishing vessels to the waters ...
document COM(2022)576 EN
date January 23, 2023
 
(1) On 10 February 2015, the Council adopted Council Decision 2015/238/EU 5 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of the Seychelles on access for fishing vessels flying the flag of the Seychelles to the waters and marine biological resources of Mayotte, under the jurisdiction of the European Union (hereinafter ‘the Agreement of 2015’).

(2) The Agreement of 2015 set out, for a period of 6 years as from its provisional application, the fishing opportunities granted to Seychelles vessels in the fishing zone under the sovereignty or jusrisdiction of the Union in Mayotte. The period of application of that agreement expired on 20 May 2020.

(3) On the basis of its Article 17, the Agreement was tacitly renewed for an additional period of 6 years.

(4) On 24 October 2019, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with Seychelles in order to conclude a new agreement 6 . Those negotiations were sucessfully concluded and a new agreement (hereinafter ‘the Agreement’) was initialled on 10 June 2022.

(5) The objective of the new Agreement is to enable further strengthening of a strategic partnership with Seychelles and to align the technical and financial conditions of the Agreement with the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement with Seychelles and its Implementing Protocol signed in 2020 7 , and to contribute to responsible fishing in EU waters and to developing fishery policy in Mayotte.

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

(7) In order to allow, as soon as possible, the continuation of fishing activities by the vessels of the Republic of Seychelles, the Agreement should be applied provisionally upon its signature, however not earlier than as from 1 January 2023, and this decision should enter into force upon its adoption for reasons of better administrative management of fishing authorisations.

(8) The European Data Protection Supervisor was consulted in accordance with Article 42 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 8 of the European Parliament and of the Council and delivered an advice on [insert date].