COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2024/198

of 11 December 2023

on the conclusion of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Madagascar and its implementing protocol (2023-2027)

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), and Article 218(7) 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) 2023/1476 (2), the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Madagascar (‘Madagascar’) (the ‘Agreement’) and its implementing protocol (the ‘Protocol’) were signed on 30 June 2023.

(2) The Agreement replaces the previous Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Madagascar (3), applied on a provisional basis since 1 January 2007.

(3) The objectives of the Agreement and the Protocol are to enable Union vessels to fish in Madagascar’s fishing zone and to enable the Union and Madagascar to work closely together to further promote the development of a sustainable fisheries policy and the responsible exploitation of fishery resources in Madagascar’s fishing zone and in the Indian Ocean. That cooperation will also contribute to decent working conditions in the fisheries sector.

(4) The Agreement and the Protocol should be approved.

(5) Article 14 of the Agreement establishes a Joint Committee responsible for monitoring the application of the Agreement and the Protocol. In addition, pursuant to Article 14(3) of the Agreement and Article 11 and Article 12(4) of the Protocol, the Joint Committee is authorised to adopt certain amendments to the Protocol. In order to facilitate the approval of such amendments, the Commission should be authorised, subject to substantive and procedural conditions, to approve them on behalf of the Union under a simplified procedure.

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

(7) The European Data Protection Supervisor was consulted in accordance with Article 42 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4) and delivered an opinion on 1 June 2023,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Madagascar and its implementing protocol (2023-2027) are hereby approved on behalf of the Union (5).

Article 2

The President of the Council shall, on behalf of the Union, give the notification provided for in Article 17 of the Agreement and the notification provided for in Article 18 of the Protocol (6).

Article 3

In accordance with the procedure and conditions laid down in the Annex to this Decision, the Commission is authorised to approve, on behalf of the Union, amendments to the Protocol adopted by the Joint Committee established under Article 14 of the Agreement.

Article 4

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 11 December 2023.

For the Council

The President

L. PLANAS PUCHADES

(1) Consent of 9 November 2023 (not yet published in the Official Journal).

(2)

OJ L 182, 19.7.2023, p. 23

(3) Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Republic of Madagascar and the European Community (

OJ L 331, 17.12.2007, p. 7

(4) Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 and Decision No 1247/2002/EC (

OJ L 295, 21.11.2018, p. 39

(5) The texts of the Agreement and the Protocol are published in

OJ L 182, 19.7.2023, p. 25

(6) The date of entry into force of the Agreement will be published in the

Official Journal of the European Union

by the General Secretariat of the Council.

ANNEX

PROCEDURE AND CONDITIONS FOR THE APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS TO THE PROTOCOL TO BE ADOPTED BY THE JOINT COMMITTEE

Where the Joint Committee is asked to adopt amendments to the Protocol in accordance with Article 14(3) of the Agreement and Article 11 and Article 12(4) of the Protocol, the Commission is authorised to approve the proposed amendments on behalf of the Union, under the following conditions:

(1) The Commission shall ensure that the approval on behalf of the Union:

(a) is in accordance with the objectives of the common fisheries policy;

(b) is consistent with the relevant rules adopted by regional fisheries management organisations and takes account of joint management by coastal states;

(2) Before approving the proposed amendments on behalf of the Union, the Commission shall submit them to the Council in sufficient time before the relevant meeting of the Joint Committee.

(3) The Council shall assess whether the proposed amendments comply with the criteria laid down in point 1.

(4) Unless a number of Member States equivalent to a blocking minority of the Council, in accordance with Article 16(4) of the Treaty on European Union, object to the proposed amendments, the Commission shall approve them on behalf of the Union. If there is such a blocking minority, the Commission shall reject the proposed amendments on behalf of the Union.

(5) If, in the course of subsequent meetings of the Joint Committee, including on the spot, it is impossible to reach an agreement, the matter shall be referred back to the Council, in accordance with the procedure set out in points 2 to 4, in order for the Union position to take account of new factors.

(6) The Commission is invited to take, in due time, any steps necessary to follow up on the decision of the Joint Committee, including, where appropriate, publishing the relevant decision in the

Official Journal of the European Union

and submitting any proposal necessary for the implementation of that decision.

As regards other matters which do not concern amendments to the Protocol, in accordance with Article 14(3) of the Agreement and Article 11 and Article 12(4) of the Protocol, the position to be adopted by the Union within the Joint Committee shall be determined in accordance with the Treaties and established working practices.

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/198/oj

ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)