On 17 March 2008 the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 241/2008 on the conclusion of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau1 (hereinafter ‘the Partnership Agreement’).

A new Protocol to the Partnership Agreement was initialled on 15 June 2011 (hereinafter ‘the new Protocol’). The new Protocol grants EU vessels fishing opportunities in waters in which Guinea-Bissau exercises its sovereignty or jurisdiction as regards fishing.

On 14 November 2011 the Council adopted Decision 2011/885/EU2 on the signing and provisional application of the new Protocol.

The method for allocating the fishing opportunities among the Member States should be defined for the period when the new Protocol applies.

Article 10(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1006/2008 of 29 September 2008 concerning authorisations for fishing activities of Community fishing vessels outside Community waters and the access of third country vessels to Community waters3 provides that the Commission will inform the Member States concerned if it appears that the fishing opportunities allocated to the Union under the new Protocol are not fully utilised. The absence of a reply within the time limits to be set by the Council is considered as a confirmation that the vessels of the Member State concerned are not making full use of their fishing opportunities during the period concerned. Those time limits should be set.

Given that the previous Protocol expired on 15 June 2011, this Regulation should enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union and apply with effect from 16 June 2011,