Council Decision (EU) 2015/238 of 10 February 2015 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of the Seychelles on access for fishing vessels flying the flag of the Seychelles to waters and marine biological resources of Mayotte, under the jurisdiction of the European Union

What it is

to conclude an Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of the Seychelles on access for fishing vessels flying the flag of the Seychelles to waters and marine biological resources of Mayotte, under the jurisdiction of the European Union. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act. BACKGROUND: in the course of the negotiations for a new protocol to the EU-Seychelles Fisheries Partnership Agreement , held in May 2013, the Seychelles raised the need of negotiating an access agreement for Seychelles flagged vessels to the waters of Mayotte , which will fall under the jurisdiction of the EU from 1 January 2014. This would enable Seychelles flagged vessels to continue to have access to Mayotte waters from 1 January 2014. Seychelles flagged vessels can currently fish in Mayotte waters on the basis of an agreement between the Prefet de Mayotte and the Seychelles flagged vessels owners. PURPOSE: to conclude the Agreement between the European Union and the Seychelles on access for fishing vessels flying the flag of the Seychelles to waters and marine biological resources of Mayotte, under the jurisdiction of the European Union. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act. BACKGROUND: on 11 July 2012, the European Council adopted Decision 2012/419/EU1 amending, with effect from 1 January 2014, the status of Mayotte with regard to the European Union. From that date, Mayotte ceased to be an overseas country or territory and became an outermost region of the Union within the meaning of Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). The Council authorised the Commission to negotiate, on behalf of the Union, an agreement with the Seychelles relating to the access, for fishing vessels flying the flag of Seychelles, to waters and marine biological resources of the Union in the exclusive economic zone off the coast of Mayotte. The Agreement between the European Union and the Seychelles on access for fishing vessels flying the flag of the Seychelles to waters and marine biological resources of Mayotte, under the jurisdiction of the European Union was signed in accordance with a Council Decision and is provisionally applied. In order for the authorities in Mayotte to implement the rules of the common fisheries policy (CFP) from the date on which Mayotte becomes an outermost region, it is necessary to set up the appropriate administrative framework, control activities and physical infrastructure, and to provide the appropriate capacity building. CONTENT : the proposal calls on the council to approve, on behalf of the EU, an Agreement with the Seychelles on access for fishing vessels flying the flag of the Seychelles to waters and marine biological resources of Mayotte, under the jurisdiction of the European Union. For the contents of the Agreement, please refer to the summary of the Commission’s initial legislative proposal dated 10/03/2014. Simplified procedure : the Agreement established a Joint Committee responsible for monitoring its application. The Joint Committee may…

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