Council Decision (EU) 2015/384 of 2 March 2015 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of a Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Senegal and the Implementation Protocol thereto

• CELEX: Decision (EU) 2015/384
• Articles: 5

Article 1

The Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Senegal and the Implementation Protocol thereto are hereby approved on behalf of the Union  ( 2 ) .

Article 2

The President of the Council shall, on behalf of the Union, give the notifications provided for in Article 16 of the Agreement and Article 13 of the Protocol.

Article 3

Subject to the provisions and conditions set out in the Annex, the Commission shall be empowered to approve, on behalf of the Union, modifications to the Protocol in the Joint Committee.

Article 4

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.

Schedules & Appendices

ANNEX

ANNEX

Scope of the empowerment and procedure for the establishment of the Union position in the Joint Committee

1.

The Commission shall be authorised to negotiate with Republic of Senegal and, where appropriate and, subject to complying with point 3 of this Annex, agree modifications to the Protocol, in respect of the following issues:

(a)

adjustment of fishing opportunities and setting new fishing opportunities in accordance with Article 7(3)(a) of the Agreement and Articles 6 and 7 of the Protocol;

(b)

decision on the rules on sectoral support in accordance with Article 7(3)(b) of the Agreement and Article 4 of the Protocol;

(c)

conditions including technical specifications and procedures on fishing by Union fishing vessels in accordance with Article 7(3)(c) of the Agreement and the Annex to the Protocol.

2.

In the Joint Committee established under the Agreement, the Union shall:

(a)

act in accordance with the objectives pursued by the Union within the framework of the Common Fisheries Policy;

(b)

follow the Council Conclusions of 19 March 2012 on a Communication on the external dimension of the Common Fisheries Policy;

(c)

promote positions that are consistent with the relevant rules adopted by Regional Fisheries Management Organisations.

3.

When a decision on amendments to the Protocol referred to in point 1 is expected to be adopted during a Joint Committee meeting, the necessary steps shall be taken so that the position to be expressed on behalf of the Union takes account of the latest statistical, biological and other relevant data transmitted to the Commission.

To this effect and based on such data, a document setting out the particulars of the proposed Union position shall be transmitted by the Commission, in sufficient time before the relevant Joint Committee meeting, to the Council or to its preparatory bodies for consideration and approval.

In respect of issues referred to in point 1(a), the approval of the envisaged Union position by the Council shall require a qualified majority of votes. In the other cases, the Union position envisaged in the preparatory document shall be deemed to be agreed, unless a number of Member States equivalent to a blocking minority objects during a meeting of the Council's preparatory body or within 20 days from receipt of the preparatory document, whichever occurs earlier. In case of such objection, the matter shall be referred to the Council.

If, in the course of further meetings, including on the spot, it is impossible to reach an agreement in order for the Union position to take account of new elements, the matter shall be referred to the Council or its preparatory bodies.

4.

The Commission shall be invited to take, in good time, any steps necessary as a follow-up to the decision of the Joint Committee, including, where appropriate, publication of the relevant decision in the Official Journal of the European Union and submission of any proposal necessary for the implementation of that decision.