EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Brussels, 1.10.2019
COM(2019) 448 final
ANNEX
to
the Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION
on the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania concerning the extension of 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 and expiring on 15 November 2019
ANNEX - Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania concerning the extension of 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 and expiring on 15 November 2019.
A. Letter from the European Union
Dear Sirs,
I have the honour to confirm that we agree to the following interim arrangements for extending the current Protocol (16 November 2015 - 15 November 2019), hereinafter ‘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, pending the finalisation of the negotiations on renewing the Partnership Agreement and the Protocol.
In this context, the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania have agreed the following:
(1)As from 16 November 2019 or any other later date following the signature of this Exchange of Letters, the arrangements applicable during the last year of the Protocol shall be extended under the same conditions for a maximum period of one year.
(2)The Union's financial contribution for access by vessels to Mauritanian waters under the extension shall correspond to the annual amount laid down in Article 2 of the Protocol, as amended by the Joint Committee of 15 and 16 November 2016. This payment shall be made in one instalment, not later than within three months of the date of the provisional application of this Exchange of Letters.
(3)The amount of sectoral support relating to the current extension agreement totals EUR 4.125 million. The Joint Committee referred to in Article 10 of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement shall approve the programming relating to this amount in accordance with the provisions of Article 3(1) of the Protocol, not later than within two months of the date of application of this Exchange of Letters. The conditions stipulated in Article 3 of the Protocol that relate to the implementation and to sectoral support payments shall apply mutatis mutandis.
(4)If the negotiations on renewing the Partnership Agreement and the Protocol thereto culminate in their signature and application before the date of expiry of the one-year period set out in point 1 above, the payments of the financial contribution referred to in points 2 and 3 above shall be reduced prorata temporis. The corresponding amount already paid shall be deducted from the first financial contribution under the new Protocol.
(5)During the period of application of this extension agreement, fishing licences shall be granted within the limits established in the Protocol, subject to fees or advance payments corresponding to those set out in Appendix 1 of Annex 1 to the Protocol.
(6)This Exchange of Letters shall apply provisionally from 16 November 2019 or any other later date following the signature of this Exchange of Letters, pending its entry into force. It will enter into force on the date on which the Parties notify each other that they have completed the necessary procedures for that purpose.
I should be obliged if you would acknowledge receipt of this letter and confirm that you are in agreement with its terms.
Yours faithfully,
B. Letter from the Islamic Republic of Mauritania
Dear Sirs,
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of today's date, which reads as follows:
‘Dear Sirs,
I have the honour to confirm that we agree to the following interim arrangements for extending the current Protocol (16 November 2015 - 15 November 2019), hereinafter ‘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, pending the finalisation of the negotiations on renewing the Partnership Agreement and the Protocol.
In this context, the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania have agreed the following:
(1)As from 16 November 2019 or any other later date following the signature of this Exchange of Letters, the arrangements applicable during the last year of the Protocol shall be extended under the same conditions for a maximum period of one year.
(2)The Union's financial contribution for access by vessels to Mauritanian waters under the extension shall correspond to the annual amount laid down in Article 2 of the Protocol, as amended by the Joint Committee of 15 and 16 November 2016. This payment shall be made in one instalment, not later than within three months of the date of the provisional application of this Exchange of Letters.
(3)The amount of sectoral support relating to the current extension agreement totals EUR 4.125 million. The Joint Committee referred to in Article 10 of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement shall approve the programming relating to this amount in accordance with the provisions of Article 3(1) of the Protocol, not later than within two months of the date of application of this Exchange of Letters. The conditions stipulated in Article 3 of the Protocol that relate to the implementation and to sectoral support payments shall apply mutatis mutandis.
(4)If the negotiations on renewing the Partnership Agreement and the Protocol thereto culminate in their signature and application before the date of expiry of the one-year period set out in point 1 above, the payments of the financial contribution referred to in points 2 and 3 above shall be reduced prorata temporis. The corresponding amount already paid shall be deducted from the first financial contribution under the new Protocol.
(5)During the period of application of this extension agreement, fishing licences shall be granted within the limits established in the Protocol, subject to fees or advance payments corresponding to those set out in Appendix 1 of Annex 1 to the Protocol.
(6)This Exchange of Letters shall apply provisionally from 16 November 2019 or any other later date following the signature of this Exchange of Letters, pending its entry into force. It will enter into force on the date on which the Parties notify each other that they have completed the necessary procedures for that purpose.’
I confirm that the content of your letter is acceptable to my Government.
Your letter and this letter constitute an agreement in accordance with your proposal.
Yours faithfully,