COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2021/113

of 25 January 2021

on the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Government of the Cook Islands concerning an extension of the Protocol on the implementation of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the Cook Islands

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)(v) 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) 2020/1545 (2), the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters concerning an extension of the Protocol on the implementation of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the Cook Islands (‘the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters’), expiring on 13 October 2020, was signed on 13 November 2020, subject to its conclusion at a later date.

(2) The aim of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters is to enable the Union and the Government of the Cook Islands to continue working together to promote a sustainable fisheries policy and the sound exploitation of fisheries resources in the Cook Islands’ waters, and to allow Union vessels to carry out their fishing activities 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 Government of the Cook Islands concerning an extension of the Protocol on the implementation of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the Cook Islands 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)  Consent of 14 December 2020 (not yet published in the Official Journal).

(2)  Council Decision (EU) 2020/1545 of 19 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 Government of the Cook Islands concerning an extension of the Protocol on the implementation of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the Cook Islands (

OJ L 356, 26.10.2020, p. 7

).

(3)  The text of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters is published in

OJ L 356 of 26 October 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.