On 28 June 2007, the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 753/2007 on the conclusion of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community on the one hand, and the Government of Denmark and the Home Rule Government of Greenland, on the other hand1.

Since the current Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community on the one hand, and the Government of Denmark and the Home Rule Government of Greenland, on the other hand2 (‘the current Protocol’) will expire on 31 December 2012, a new Protocol was initialled on 3 February 2012. The new Protocol provides EU fishing vessels with fishing opportunities in Greenlandic waters.

On 16 July 2012, the Council adopted Decision 2012/653/EU3 on the signing and the provisional application of the new Protocol.

In accordance with Article 10(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1006/2008 of 29 September 2008 concerning authorisations for fishing activities of Community fishing vessels outside Community waters and the access of third country vessels to Community waters4, if it appears that the number of fishing authorisations or the amount of fishing opportunities allocated to the Union under the current Protocol are not fully utilised, the Commission is to inform the Member States concerned. The absence of a reply within the deadline to be set by the Council is to be considered as confirmation that the vessels of the Member State concerned are not making full use of their fishing opportunities during the given period. That deadline should therefore be set by the Council.

Given that the current Protocol will expire on 31 December 2012 and that the new Protocol is to be provisionally applied from 1 January 2013, this Regulation should apply from 1 January 2013,