COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2021/99

of 25 January 2021

on the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania on an extension to the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, expiring on 15 November 2020

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 43 in conjunction with Article 218(6), second subparagraph, point (a) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Having regard to the consent of the European Parliament (1),

Whereas:

(1)

In accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2020/1704 (2), the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania on an extension to the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, expiring on 15 November 2020 (the ‘Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters’) was signed on 15 November 2020.

(2)

The aim of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters is to enable the Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania to continue working together to promote a sustainable fisheries policy and a sound exploitation of fishery resources in Mauritanian waters and to allow Union vessels to fish in those waters.

(3)	The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters should be approved,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania on an extension to the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, expiring on 15 November 2020, is hereby approved on behalf of the Union (3).

Article 2

The President of the Council shall, on behalf of the Union, give the notification provided for in point 6 of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters (4).

Article 3

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 25 January 2021.

For the Council

The President

J. BORRELL FONTELLES

(1) Approval of 14 December 2020 (not yet published in the Official Journal).

(2) Council Decision (EU) 2020/1704 of 23 October 2020 on the signing, on behalf of the Union, and provisional application of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania on an extension to the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, expiring on 15 November 2020 (OJ L 383, 16.11.2020, p. 1).

(3) The text of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters is published in OJ L 383 of 16 November 2020.

(4) The date of entry into force of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union by the General Secretariat of the Council.