(2014/195/EU): Council Decision of 17 February 2014 authorising Member States to sign, ratify or accede to the Cape Town Agreement of 2012 on the Implementation of the Provisions of the Torremolinos Protocol of 1993 relating to the Torremolinos International Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels, 1977 Text with EEA relevance

• Articles: 4

Article 1

Member States are hereby authorised to sign, sign and ratify, or accede to, as appropriate, the Cape Town Agreement of 2012 on the Implementation of the Provisions of the Torremolinos Protocol of 1993 relating to the Torremolinos International Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels, 1977.

Article 2

Member States shall endeavour to take the necessary steps to deposit their instruments of ratification of, or accession to, the Agreement with the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation within a reasonable time and, if possible, no later than two years from the date of entry into force of this Decision.

When a Member State signs, ratifies or accedes to the Agreement, it shall also deposit the Declaration set out in the Annex to this Decision.

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Schedules & Appendices

ANNEX DECLARATION TO BE DEPOSITED BY THE MEMBER STATES UPON SIGNATURE, RATIFICATION OR ACCESSION TO THE CAPE TOWN AGREEMENT OF 2012 ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE TORREMOLINOS PROTOCOL OF 1993 RELATING TO THE TORREMOLINOS INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE SAFETY OF FISHING VESSELS, 1977

ANNEX

DECLARATION TO BE DEPOSITED BY THE MEMBER STATES UPON SIGNATURE, RATIFICATION OR ACCESSION TO THE CAPE TOWN AGREEMENT OF 2012 ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE TORREMOLINOS PROTOCOL OF 1993 RELATING TO THE TORREMOLINOS INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE SAFETY OF FISHING VESSELS, 1977

As part of a regional arrangement authorised under Article 3(5) of the Torremolinos Protocol, [ insert the name of the Member State ] is bound by relevant European Union legislation, namely Council Directive 97/70/EC of 11 December 1997 setting up a harmonised safety regime for fishing vessels of 24 metres in length and over  ( 1 ) . Consequently [ insert the name of the Member State ] will apply the provisions of the Torremolinos Protocol regarding safety standards to third country fishing vessels of 24 metres in length and over which operate in its internal or territorial waters or which land catch in one of its ports, subject to the terms laid down in the abovementioned Directive.

Under that regional arrangement, the exemptions provided for in Regulation 1(6) of Chapter I of the Annex to the Cape Town Agreement in relation to annual surveys and in Regulation 3(3) of Chapter I of the Annex thereto concerning a common fishing zone or exclusive economic zone shall not apply to the fishing vessels of the Member State, and to third country fishing vessels of 24 meters in length and over while operating in the depositing Member State's common fishing zone, exclusive economic zone, or landing catch at its ports. Exemptions issued under Regulation 3(3) of Chapter I of the Annex to the Cape Town Agreement, concerning a common fishing zone or an exclusive economic zone, to fishing vessels falling within the scope of application of Regulation 1 of Chapter I of the Annex to the Cape Town Agreement, shall not be accepted.

( 1 )

OJ L 34, 9.2.1998, p. 1 .