Council Decision (EU) 2019/1088
of 6 June 2019
on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and provisional application of the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (2019-2024)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 43, in conjunction with Article 218(5) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
On 17 March 2008, the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 241/20081, concluding the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau2 (‘the Agreement’). The Agreement entered into force on 15 April 2008, was tacitly renewed and remains in force.
Following the Commission recommendation, the Council decided on 28 February 2017 to authorise the opening of negotiations with the Republic of Guinea-Bissau for the conclusion of a new protocol implementing the Agreement.
The previous protocol to the Agreement expired on 23 November 2017.
The Commission has negotiated on behalf of the Union a new protocol. As a result of those negotiations the new protocol was initialled on 15 November 2018.
The objective of the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (2019-2024) (‘the Protocol’) is to enable the Union and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau to work more closely on promoting a sustainable fisheries policy, sound exploitation of fisheries resources in Guinea-Bissau waters and efforts by Guinea-Bissau to develop a blue economy.
In order to ensure an expeditious start to fishing activities by Union vessels, the Protocol should be applied on a provisional basis as from the signature thereof.
The Protocol should be signed and applied on a provisional basis, pending the completion of the procedures necessary for its entry into force,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: