Council Decision
of 16 December 2011
on the approval, on behalf of the European Union, of the Declaration on the granting of fishing opportunities in EU waters to fishing vessels flying the flag of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in the exclusive economic zone off the coast of French Guiana
(2012/19/EU)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 43(3), in conjunction with point (b) of Article 218(6) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
After consulting the European Parliament,
Whereas:
Subject to their compliance with the applicable legally binding Union acts on the conservation and management of fishery resources, fishing vessels flying the flag of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (hereinafter ‘Venezuela’) have operated in EU waters in the exclusive economic zone off the coast of French Guiana for many decades.
The processing industry based in French Guiana depends on the landings from those fishing vessels and therefore the continuity of those operations should be ensured.
In order to ensure such continuity it is necessary that the Union make a declaration addressed to Venezuela confirming its readiness to issue fishing authorisations to a limited number of fishing vessels flying the flag of Venezuela on the condition that they comply with the applicable legally binding Union acts,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: