Introductory text

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) and Article 218(7) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Having regard to the consent of the European Parliament^f1,

Whereas:

On 28 June 2007, the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 753/2007^f2 concerning 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 hand (‘the Partnership Agreement’). The current Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for by the Partnership Agreement expires on 31 December 2015.

The Union has negotiated with the Government of Denmark and the Government of Greenland a new protocol to the Partnership Agreement (‘the Protocol’) setting out the fishing possibilities and financial contribution.

The Protocol was signed in accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2015/2103^f3 and has been applied on provisional basis since 1 January 2016.

Article 10 of the Partnership Agreement sets up a Joint Committee to monitor the application of the Partnership Agreement and ensure its implementation. Furthermore, in accordance with the Protocol, the Joint Committee may approve certain modifications to the Protocol. In order to facilitate the approval of such modifications, it is appropriate to empower the Commission, subject to specific conditions, to approve them under a simplified procedure.

The Protocol should be approved on behalf of the Union,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: