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Document 52019PC0280
Recommendation for a COUNCIL DECISION to authorise the Commission to open negotiations on behalf of the European Union for the conclusion of a protocol to the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Republic of Senegal
Recommendation for a COUNCIL DECISION to authorise the Commission to open negotiations on behalf of the European Union for the conclusion of a protocol to the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Republic of Senegal
Recommendation for a COUNCIL DECISION to authorise the Commission to open negotiations on behalf of the European Union for the conclusion of a protocol to the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Republic of Senegal
COM/2019/280 final
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Brussels, 18.6.2019
COM(2019) 280 final
Recommendation for a
COUNCIL DECISION
to authorise the Commission to open negotiations on behalf of the European Union for the conclusion of a protocol to the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Republic of Senegal
{SWD(2019) 207 final} - {SWD(2019) 208 final}
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
1.CONTEXT OF THE RECOMMENDATION
•Reasons for and objectives of the proposal
The Commission proposes to negotiate a new protocol to the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Republic of Senegal, which meets the needs of the Union fleet and is in line with Regulation (EU) No1380/2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the 19 March 2012 Council Conclusions on a Communication from the Commission on the External dimension of the Common Fisheries Policy.
•Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area
The current Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) between European Union and Senegal 1 was signed on 20 November 2014 2 . The current 5-year Protocol 3 to the SFPA entered into application on 20 November 2014 4 and will expire on 19 November 2019. This Protocol fixes the fishing opportunities provided to the Union fleet and the corresponding financial contribution paid by the Union and the ship-owners.
The annual EU public financial contribution due to Senegal amounts from 1 058 000 EUR for the first year, 988 000 EUR for the second, third and fourth year, to 918 000 EUR during the fifth year for a total tonnage reference of 14 000 per year. In addition to that, 750 000 EUR per year during 5 years are earmarked for sectoral support.
The SFPA with Senegal provides fishing opportunities targeting tuna and highly migratory species for EU vessels from two Member States (Spain and France), and fishing opportunities targeting demersal species for two vessels (from Spain). The European Union has already developed a network of bilateral Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements (SFPAs) in the Atlantic Ocean facing West Africa, namely with Morocco, Mauritania, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, and the Ivory Coast.
SFPAs contribute to promote the objectives of the CFP internationally, ensuring that Union fishing activities outside Union waters are based on the same principles and standards as those applicable under Union law. In addition, SFPAs foster scientific cooperation between the EU and its partner, promote transparency and sustainability for a better management of fishing resources and encourage governance by supporting monitoring, control and surveillance of national and foreign fleets' activities and providing funding to fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and to contribute to the sustainable development of local fishing industry. SFPAs strengthen the EU’s position in international and regional fishing organisations: in the case of Senegal, in particular, in the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) 5 . Finally, SFPAs are based on the best available scientific advice and contribute to the improvement of compliance with international measures, including combatting illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
•Consistency with other Union policies
The negotiation of a new protocol with Senegal 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, human rights.
Although at local scale, economic activity generated in the fisheries sector in Senegal will contribute to addressing the causes of irregular migration from the country.
2.LEGAL ELEMENTS OF THE RECOMMENDATION
•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 Commission carried out in 2019 an ex-post evaluation of the current protocol to the SFPA Senegal as well as an ex-ante evaluation of a possible renewal of the protocol. The conclusions of the evaluation are set out in a separate Staff Working Document 6 .
The evaluation concluded that the EU fishing sectors (for both tuna and demersal species) are firmly interested in fishing in Senegal and that a renewal of the Protocol would help strengthen monitoring, control and surveillance and would contribute to improved governance of the fisheries in the region. For the EU, it is important to maintain an instrument allowing sectoral cooperation with Senegal, as a main player at the sub-regional level. Moreover, the importance of Dakar as one of the main landing ports contributes to the relevance of the envisaged new Protocol, both for the EU fishing industry and for the partner country. For the Senegalese authorities, the aim is to continue relations with the EU for strengthening ocean governance, benefiting from dedicated sectoral support that provides for multi-year funding opportunities.
•Stakeholder consultations
Member States, industry representatives, international civil society organisations, as well as Senegal's fisheries administration and civil society have been consulted as part of the evaluation. Consultations have also taken place in the framework of the Long Distance Advisory Council.
•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 budgetary implications connected with the new Protocol include the payment of a financial contribution to the Republic of Senegal, which is compatible with the 2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), in particular as regards allocations to the budget line for Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements. The annual amounts for commitments and payments are established in the yearly budgetary procedure, including the reserve line for proposals not entered into force at the beginning of the year 7 .
5.OTHER ELEMENTS
•Implementation plans and monitoring, evaluation and reporting arrangements
Negotiations are expected to open in the second quarter of 2019.
•Detailed explanation of the specific provisions of the proposal
The Commission recommends that:
- The Council should authorise the Commission to open and conduct negotiations for the conclusion of a new protocol to the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Republic of Senegal;
- 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
to authorise the Commission to open negotiations on behalf of the European Union for the conclusion of a protocol to the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Republic of Senegal
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 218 paragraphs 3 and 4,
Having regard to the recommendation from the European Commission,
Whereas negotiations should be opened with a view to concluding a new protocol to the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Republic of Senegal,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The Commission is hereby authorised to open negotiations with Senegal, with a view to conclude a new protocol to the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Republic of Senegal.
Article 2
The negotiations shall be conducted in consultation with the [name of the special committee to be inserted by the Council] and on the basis of the negotiating directives set out in the annex to this Decision.
Article 3
This Decision is addressed to the Commission.
Done at Brussels,
For the Council
The President
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Brussels, 18.6.2019
COM(2019) 280 final
ANNEX
to the
Recommendation
for a Council decision to authorise the Commission to open negotiations on behalf of the European Union for the conclusion of a protocol to the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Republic of Senegal
{SWD(2019) 207 final} - {SWD(2019) 208 final}
ANNEX
–Negotiation directives
–The objective of the negotiations is the conclusion of a protocol to the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Senegal in line with Regulation (EU) N° 1380/2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy and with the Council Conclusions of 19 March 2012 on the Commission Communication of 13 July 2011 on the external dimension of the Common Fisheries Policy.
–To promote sustainable and responsible fishing while ensuring mutual benefits for the EU and the Republic of Senegal through this new protocol, the Commission's negotiation objectives shall be based on the following:
·Ensuring access to the Republic of Senegal's fishing zone and the necessary authorisations for vessels of the EU fleet to fish in that zone, thereby inter alia developing the network of Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements available to EU operators in West-Africa;
·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;
·Seeking an appropriate share of the surplus fisheries resources, fully commensurate with the EU fleets' interests, when they also interest other foreign fleets, as well as the application of the same technical conditions to all foreign fleets;
·Ensuring that access to fisheries is based on the historical and the expected future activity of the EU fleet in the region, in the light of the most updated and best available scientific assessments;
·Establishing a dialogue to reinforce the sectoral policy with a view to: encouraging the implementation of a responsible fisheries policy, in connection with the country's development objectives, in particular as regards the fisheries governance, the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, control, monitoring and surveillance of fishing activities and provision of scientific advice; fostering economic activity and job opportunities, contributing inter alia to addressing the causes of irregular migration from Senegal.
·Ensuring that the Protocol will contribute to the promotion of growth and decent work linked to maritime activity, taking into account relevant International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions.
·Including a clause on the consequences of violations of human rights and democratic principles;
–In particular, the protocol should define:
·the fishing opportunities, by category, to be granted to European Union vessels;
·the financial compensation and the conditions for its payment; and
·the mechanisms for implementing sectoral support.
