In accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2019/13322, the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of The Gambia (‘the Partnership Agreement’) and the Protocol on the implementation of the Partnership Agreement (‘the Protocol’) were signed on 31 July 2019, subject to their conclusion at a later date.

The Partnership Agreement repeals the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of the Republic of the Gambia on fishing off the Gambia3, which entered into force on 2 June 1987.

The Partnership Agreement and the Protocol have been applied on a provisional basis since the date of their signature.

The Partnership Agreement and the Protocol should be approved.

Article 9 of the Partnership Agreement establishes the Joint Committee responsible for monitoring its implementation. Pursuant to that Article and to Articles 5, 6 and 8 of the Protocol, the Joint Committee is able to adopt modifications to the Protocol. In order to facilitate the approval of such amendments, the Commission should be authorised, subject to specific substantive and procedural conditions, to approve them on behalf of the Union under a simplified procedure.

The Union position on the modifications to the Protocol should be established by the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Governments of the Member States (Coreper). The proposed modifications will be accepted unless a blocking minority of the Member States in accordance with Article 16(4) of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) objects in Coreper.

The position to be adopted by the Union in the Joint Committee on other matters should be determined in accordance with the Treaties and established forms of practice,