EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Brussels, 30.1.2024
COM(2024) 48 final
ANNEX
to the
Recommendation for a
COUNCIL DECISION
authorising the opening of negotiations on behalf of the European Union for a new implementing protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire
{SWD(2024) 22 final} - {SWD(2024) 25 final}
ANNEX
Negotiating directives
–The objective of the negotiations is to conclude an implementing protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 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.
–The implementing protocol should define the general framework for the fishing activities of EU vessels in the waters of Côte d’Ivoire and for the EU’s cooperation with Côte d’Ivoire in the field of fisheries.
–To promote sustainable and responsible fishing while ensuring mutual benefits for the EU and Côte d’Ivoire, the Commission’s negotiation objectives should be based on the following:
·ensuring access to Côte d’Ivoire’s fishing zone and the necessary authorisations for EU vessels to fish in that zone, thereby inter alia developing the network of Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements available to EU operators in the Atlantic Ocean;
·taking into account the best available scientific advice and relevant management plans adopted by Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs), in order to ensure the environmental sustainability of fishing activities and promote ocean governance internationally. Fishing activities should exclusively target available resources, taking account of 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 fisheries resources, commensurate with the EU fleet’s interests;
·seeking the application of the same technical conditions to all foreign fleets in Côte d’Ivoire’s fishing zone, by including a clause on non-discrimination between fleets and transparency on authorised fishing activities in Côte d’Ivoire;
·ensuring that access to the fishing zone is based on the historical and the expected future activity of the EU fleet in the region, in the light of the most up-to-date and best available scientific assessments and taking into consideration the interests of the EU’s outermost regions;
·establishing a dialogue to reinforce the sectoral policy with a view to encouraging the implementation of a responsible fisheries policy, in connection with Côte d’Ivoire’s development objectives, in particular as regards fisheries governance, the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, the control, monitoring and surveillance of fishing activities, the provision of scientific advice, and the social rights of fishers, and fostering economic activity;
·including a clause on the consequences of violations of human rights (including social rights) and democratic principles;
·ensuring that the protocol will contribute to the promotion of sustainable growth and decent work linked to fishing activities, taking into account relevant International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions.
–In particular, the protocol should establish:
·the fishing opportunities to be granted to EU vessels;
·the financial compensation and the conditions for its payment; and
·the mechanisms for implementing sectoral support.