COUNCIL REGULATION (EU) 2019/2219

of 24 October 2019

on the allocation of fishing opportunities under the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 43(3) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1)	On 23 July 2007, the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 894/2007 (1) concluding the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community (2) (‘the Agreement’). The Agreement entered into force on 29 August 2011 and remains in force.

(2)	On 18 December 2017 the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe (‘São Tomé and Príncipe’) with a view to the conclusion of a new protocol to implement the Agreement.

(3)	The previous protocol to the Agreement expired on 22 May 2018.

(4)	The Commission has negotiated a new protocol on behalf of the Union. Following the conclusion of the negotiations, the new protocol was initialled on 17 April 2019.

(5)	In accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2019/2218 (3) the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community (‘the Protocol’) was signed on 19 December 2019.

(6)	The fishing opportunities provided for in the Protocol should be allocated among the Member States for the duration of application of the Protocol.

(7)	The Protocol will apply provisionally as from the the signature thereof in order to ensure an expeditious start to fishing activities by Union vessels. This Regulation should therefore apply from the same date,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Fishing opportunities

The fishing opportunities established under the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community shall be allocated among the Member States as follows:

(a)

tuna seiners:

Spain:	16	vessels
France:	12	vessels

(b)

surface longliners:

Spain:	5	vessels
Portugal:	1	vessel

Article 2

Entry into force and application

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from 19 December 2019.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Luxembourg, 24 October 2019.

For the Council

The President

A.-K. PEKONEN

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 894/2007 of 23 July 2007 on the conclusion of a Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community (OJ L 205, 7.8.2007, p. 35).

(2) OJ L 205, 7.8.2007, p. 36.

(3) Council Decision (EU) 2019/2218 of 24 October 2019 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and provisional application of the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community (see page 1 of this Official Journal).