On 17 March 2008, the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 242/20081 concluding the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire and the European Community2 (the ‘Agreement’).

The last Protocol to the Agreement expired on 30 June 2018.

The Commission has negotiated, on behalf of the European Union, a new Protocol implementing the Agreement (the ‘Protocol’). The Protocol was initialled on 16 March 2018.

In accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2018/10693, the Protocol was signed on 1 August 2018, subject to its conclusion at a later date.

The fishing opportunities should be allocated among the Member States for the full duration of application of the Protocol.

Article 12 of Regulation (EU) 2017/2403 of the European Parliament and of the Council4 provides that during a specific year or any other relevant period of the implementation of a protocol to a Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement and taking into account the validity periods of the fishing authorisations, the Member States should be informed of any reallocation of the unused fishing opportunities.

The Protocol will apply on a provisional basis from its date of signature, in order to ensure an expeditious start to fishing activities of Union vessels. This Regulation should therefore also apply from the same date,