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Document 52019PC0407
Recommendation for a COUNCIL DECISION authorising the opening of negotiations on behalf of the European Union for the conclusion of an Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of the Seychelles on access for fishing vessels flying the flag of the Seychelles to the waters of Mayotte
Recommendation for a COUNCIL DECISION authorising the opening of negotiations on behalf of the European Union for the conclusion of an Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of the Seychelles on access for fishing vessels flying the flag of the Seychelles to the waters of Mayotte
Recommendation for a COUNCIL DECISION authorising the opening of negotiations on behalf of the European Union for the conclusion of an Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of the Seychelles on access for fishing vessels flying the flag of the Seychelles to the waters of Mayotte
COM/2019/407 final
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Brussels, 9.9.2019
COM(2019) 407 final
Recommendation for a
COUNCIL DECISION
authorising the opening of negotiations on behalf of the European Union for the conclusion of an Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of the Seychelles on access for fishing vessels flying the flag of the Seychelles to the waters of Mayotte
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
1.CONTEXT OF THE RECOMMENDATION
•Reasons for and objectives of the recommendation
The Commission proposes to negotiate a new agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Seychelles on access for fishing vessels flying the flag of the Seychelles to waters and marine biological resources of Mayotte, under the jurisdiction of the European Union. The Commission intends to carry out the negotiations for the new access’s agreement in parallel with the negotiations of a new Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement and a new protocol with the Republic of Seychelles.
•Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area
On 11 July 2012, the European Council adopted Decision 2012/419/EU 1 amending, with effect from 1 January 2014, the status of Mayotte with regard to the European Union. From that date, Mayotte ceased to be an overseas country or territory, and became an outermost region of the Union within the meaning of Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). As a consequence, the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Mayotte became EU waters.
As a result, in 2014 the European Union and Seychelles signed an agreement that ensured the operations of Seychelles flagged vessels in the EEZ of Mayotte, under the jurisdiction of the France.
The current agreement allows 8 Seychelles vessels to fish in the waters of Mayotte, and will expire on 6 June 2020. The payment of the licences and catches by ship-owners of Seychelles’ fleet is the only financial compensation under this agreement, and it is collected by France for the account of its outermost region Mayotte. These revenues are used by France for setting up of the appropriate legislative framework, control activities, physical infrastructure and for the provision of appropriate capacity building in order for the administration of Mayotte to meet the requirements of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The agreement contributes to responsible fishing in EU waters, as to guarantee the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources.
This agreement has no financial implications for the EU.
•Consistency with other Union policies
The negotiation of a new Agreement with Seychelles to access the waters of Mayotte under EU jurisdiction is in line with the EU’s external action towards African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, and in particular with the Union objectives regarding the respect of democratic principles and human rights.
2.LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY
•Legal basis
The legal basis for the decision is provided by Article 218 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), in Part Five on the Union’s external action, Title V on international agreements, which sets out the procedure for negotiating and concluding agreements between the EU and third countries.
•Subsidiarity (for non-exclusive competence)
Not applicable, exclusive competence.
•Proportionality
The decision is proportional to the objective.
•Choice of the instrument
The instrument is provided for under Article 218(3) and Article 218(4) of the TFEU.
3.RESULTS OF EX-POST EVALUATIONS, STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS
•Ex-post evaluations/fitness checks of existing legislation
The agreement to access the waters of Mayotte by Seychelles’ vessels has no financial implications for the EU. Nevertheless, the Commission’s ex-post and ex-ante evaluation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with Seychelles and of its implementing protocol 2 , also reviewed how the access’s agreement has been operating.
This evaluation, carried out in 2019, concluded that the agreement to access the waters of Mayotte should be renewed together with a new implementing Protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with Seychelles, as to continue aligning the technical and financial conditions of the two texts.
•Stakeholder consultations
Member States, industry representatives, international civil society organisations, as well as Seychelles fisheries administration and civil society, were consulted as part of the ex-post and ex-ante evaluation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with Seychelles and of its implementing Protocol. Consultations have also taken place in the framework of the Long Distance Advisory Council, notably at the occasion of its meeting on 27 March 2019.
•Collection and use of expertise
Not applicable.
•Impact assessment
Not applicable.
•Regulatory fitness and simplification
Not applicable.
•Fundamental rights
The negotiating directives, proposed as an annex to the decision, recommend authorising the opening of negotiations including a clause on the consequences of violations of human rights and democratic principles.
4.BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS
The agreement to access the waters of Mayotte by Seychelles’ vessels has no financial implications for the EU.
5.OTHER ELEMENTS
•Implementation plans and monitoring, evaluation and reporting arrangements
Negotiations are expected to open in the third quarter of 2019.
•Detailed explanation of the specific provisions of the recommendation
The Commission recommends that:
- The Council should authorise the Commission to open and conduct negotiations for the conclusion of a new agreement with Seychelles to access the waters of Mayotte under EU jurisdiction by Seychelles’ vessels;
- The Commission should be nominated as the EU negotiator on this subject;
- The Commission should conduct the negotiations in consultation with the special committee, as set out in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union;
- The Council should approve the negotiating directives annexed to this recommendation.
Recommendation for a
COUNCIL DECISION
authorising the opening of negotiations on behalf of the European Union for the conclusion of an Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of the Seychelles on access for fishing vessels flying the flag of the Seychelles to the waters of Mayotte
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 218 (3) and (4) thereof,
Recalling the European Council Decision of 11 July 2012 amending the status of Mayotte with regard to the European Union 3 ,
Having regard to the recommendation from the European Commission,
Whereas negotiations should be opened with a view to concluding an agreement between the European Union and the Republic of the Seychelles relating to the access of Seychelles flagged vessels to waters of the European Union, namely the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the coast of Mayotte,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The Commission is hereby authorised to negotiate with the Republic of Seychelles an agreement relating to the access for fishing vessels flying the flag of the Republic of Seychelles to waters and marine biological resources of the Union, namely to waters and marine biological resources in the EEZ off the coast of Mayotte.
Article 2
The negotiating directives are set out in the Annex.
Article 3
The negotiations shall be conducted in consultation with the [name of the special committee designated by the Council].
Article 4
This Decision is addressed to the Commission.
Done at Brussels,
For the Council
The President
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Brussels, 9.9.2019
COM(2019) 407 final
ANNEX
to the Recommendation for a
COUNCIL DECISION
authorising the opening of negotiations on behalf of the European Union for the conclusion of an Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of the Seychelles on access for fishing vessels flying the flag of the Seychelles to the waters of Mayotte
ANNEX
Negotiation directives
–The objective of the negotiations is the conclusion of an agreement between the European Union and the Republic of the Seychelles relating to the access for vessels flying the flag of the Republic of Seychelles to waters and marine biological resources of the European Union, namely to waters and marine biological resources of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the coast of Mayotte.
–The agreement for the access to the waters of Mayotte, under EU jurisdiction, by Seychelles’ vessels should therefore define the general framework, the general principles and the objectives that will form the basis for the access. It should contain a clause repealing the current access’s agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Seychelles 1 .
–With a view to ensuring, through this new Agreement, the promotion of sustainable and responsible fishing, the Commission's negotiation objectives shall be based on the following:
·Ensuring access for vessels flying the flag of Seychelles to waters and marine biological resources of the European Union, namely to waters and marine biological resources of the EEZ off the coast of Mayotte, and the necessary fishing authorisations for vessels flying the flag of the Seychelles to carry out fishing activities in that EEZ;
·Taking into account the best available scientific advice and relevant management plans adopted by Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMO), in order to ensure the environmental sustainability of fishing activities and to promote ocean governance at the international scale. The fishing activities should be directed exclusively at available resources, taking into account the local fleet's fishing capacity, while paying special attention to the highly migratory nature of the stocks concerned;
·Ensuring access for vessels flying the flag of Seychelles to marine biological resources based on criteria similar to those which apply to the EU fleet in the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) competence area, and on the evolutions observed during the past few years;
·Including in the agreement licence fees, to be paid only by the vessel owners. No financial contribution from the Government of the Seychelles should be foreseen;
·Ensuring that the Protocol will contribute to the promotion of sustainable growth and decent work linked to fishing activities, taking into account relevant conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO);
·Including a clause on the consequences of violations of human rights and democratic principles.
–The Agreement in particular should define:
·The fishing area covered by the Agreement, the limits of which should be stated in an annex to the Agreement;
·the fishing opportunities, by category, to be granted for to fishing vessels flying the flag of Seychelles; and
·the fees required to be paid by fishing vessels flying the flag of the Seychelles in order to be authorised to have access the waters and marine biological resources of the Union in the EEZ off the coast of Mayotte and the conditions for such payments.
–