New EU/Greenland Fisheries Partnership Agreement
07 February 2012EU and GREENLAND - The EU and Greenland have reached an agreement on a new Protocol to implement the EU/Greenland Fisheries Partnership Agreement. This Protocol will enter into force on 1 January 2013 and will be valid for a period of three years.
The Member States with interests in this Protocol are: Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Germany, the UK, Ireland, France, Spain and Portugal.
The Protocol foresees that Greenland will provide the EU with the following annual fishing opportunities:
This amounts to a total fishing opportunity of 85 765 tonnes. This compares with the current total fishing opportunity of 91 700 tonnes provided under the current Protocol.
As a counterpart, the EU will annually provide financial compensation to Greenland, to a maximum amount, of €17,8 million. This amount includes a financial reserve amounting to €1.5 million, to be used when the EU may receive the possibility of exploiting additional fishing opportunities that may be offered by Greenland, based on scientific advice.
A provision within this financing has also been made for the payment of sectoral support to the Greenlandic fisheries sector.
In taking up the opportunities offered by Greenland, vessel owners will have to pay a license fee in order to be authorised to fish in Greenlandic waters, as is the current situation.
The new Protocol was agreed on the basis of ensure the sustainability of the stocks, scientific advice, and the interests of industry.
In the new Protocol, a clause relating to the respect of Human Rights has been introduced. Furthermore, the element of conditionality relating to the implementation of sectoral policy, and, the requirement of exclusivity in the EU fisheries have also been introduced. Exclusivity requires that fishing activities undertaken by EU vessels can only take place in Greenlandic waters under the FPA.
Both Parties expressed satisfaction with the results of the negotiations which have taken almost one year to conclude. The result represents a balanced package that respects the interests of both Parties and is soundly based on the precautionary approach through the decisions being taken on the basis of scientific advice. This new Protocol underscores the continuing strong co-operation between the EU and Greenland in relation to fisheries.
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