(1)

On 19 December 2006, the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 2027/2006 (2), concluding the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cape Verde (3) (‘the Agreement’). The Agreement entered into force on 30 March 2007, was tacitly renewed and remains in force.

(2)

Following the Commission recommendation, the Council decided on 4 June 2018 to authorise the opening of negotiations with the Republic of Cape Verde for the conclusion of a new protocol implementing the Agreement.

(3)

The previous protocol to the Agreement has expired on 22 December 2018.

(4)

The Commission has negotiated on behalf of the Union a new protocol. As a result of those negotiations the new protocol was initialled on 12 October 2018.

(5)

In accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2019/951 (4), the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cape Verde (2019-2024) (5) (‘the Protocol’) was signed on 20 May 2019.

(6)

The Protocol has been applied on a provisional basis from the date of its signature.

(7)

The objective of the Protocol is to enable the Union and the Republic of Cape Verde to work more closely on promoting a sustainable fisheries policy, sound exploitation of fisheries resources in Cape Verde waters, and efforts by Cape Verde to develop a blue economy.

(8)

The Protocol should be approved.

(9)

Article 9 of the Agreement establishes the Joint Committee responsible for monitoring its implementation. Furthermore, in accordance with that Article, and Article 5, Article 6(3) and Article 7(1) and (2) of the Protocol, the Joint Committee may adopt certain modifications to the Protocol. In order to facilitate the approval of such amendments, the Commission should be authorised, subject to specific substantive and procedural conditions, to approve them on behalf of the Union under a simplified procedure.

(10)

The Union position on the modifications to the Protocol should be established by the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Governments of the Member States. The proposed amendments will be accepted unless a blocking minority of the Member States in accordance with Article 16(4) of the Treaty on European Union objects in the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Governments of the Member States.

(11)

The position to be adopted by the Union in the Joint Committee on other matters should be determined in accordance with the Treaties and established forms of practice,

(1)

On 17 March 2008, the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 241/2008 (2), concluding the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (3) (‘the Agreement’). The Agreement entered into force on 15 April 2008, was tacitly renewed and remains in force.

(2)

Following the Commission recommendation, the Council decided on 28 February 2017 to authorise the opening of negotiations with the Republic of Guinea-Bissau for the conclusion of a new protocol implementing the Agreement.

(3)

The previous protocol to the Agreement expired on 23 November 2017.

(4)

The Commission has negotiated on behalf of the Union a new protocol. As a result of those negotiations the new protocol was initialled on 15 November 2018.

(5)

In accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2019/1088 (4), the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (2019-2024) (‘the Protocol’) was signed on 15 June 2019.

(6)

The Protocol has been applied on a provisional basis from the date of its signature.

(7)

The objective of the Protocol is to enable the Union and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau to work more closely on promoting a sustainable fisheries policy, sound exploitation of fishery resources in Guinea-Bissau waters and efforts by Guinea-Bissau to develop a blue economy.

(8)

The Protocol should be approved.

(9)

Article 10 of the Agreement establishes the Joint Committee responsible for monitoring its implementation. Furthermore, in accordance with that Article, and Article 5, Article 6(4), Article 7(4) and Article 8(2) and (4) of the Protocol, the Joint Committee may adopt certain modifications to the Protocol. In order to facilitate the approval of such amendments, the Commission should be authorised, subject to specific substantive and procedural conditions, to approve them on behalf of the Union under a simplified procedure.

(10)

The Union position on the modifications to the Protocol should be established by the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Governments of the Member States. The proposed amendments will be accepted unless a blocking minority of the Member States in accordance with Article 16(4) of the Treaty on European Union objects in the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Governments of the Member States.

(11)

The position to be adopted by the Union in the Joint Committee on other matters should be determined in accordance with the Treaties and established forms of practice,

(1)

On 23 July 2007 the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 894/2007 (2), concluding the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community (3) (‘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 (4), 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 Protocol has been applied on a provisional basis since the date of its signature.

(7)

The objective of the Protocol is to enable the Union and São Tomé and Príncipe to work together more closely in order to promote a sustainable fisheries policy and the sound exploitation of fisheries resources in São Tomé and Príncipe waters and to support efforts by São Tomé and Príncipe to develop its fisheries sector.

(8)

The Protocol should be approved.

(9)

Article 9 of the Agreement establishes a Joint Committee responsible for monitoring the application of the Agreement. Furthermore, in accordance with that Article and Articles 6 and 7(2) of the Protocol, the Joint Committee can adopt certain amendments to the Protocol. In order to facilitate the approval of such amendments, the Commission should be empowered, subject to specific substantive and procedural conditions, to approve them on behalf of the Union through a simplified procedure.

(10)

The Union’s position on the amendments to the Protocol should be established by the Council. The proposed amendments will be approved, unless a blocking minority of Member States object in accordance with Article 16(4) of the Treaty on European Union.

(11)

The position to be taken by the Union in the Joint Committee with regard to other matters should be determined in accordance with the Treaties and established practices,

(1)

The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) aims to provide support for workers made redundant and self-employed persons whose activities have ceased as a result of major structural changes in world trade patterns due to globalisation, as a result of a continuation of the global financial and economic crisis, or as a result of a new global financial and economic crisis, and to assist them with their reintegration into the labour market.

(2)

The EGF is not to exceed a maximum annual amount of EUR 150 million (2011 prices), as laid down in Article 12 of Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 (3).

(3)

Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013 provides that a maximum of 0,5 % of the annual maximum amount of the EGF may be used each year for technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission.

(4)

The EGF should, therefore, be mobilised in order to provide the sum of EUR 345 000 for technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission,