
Article 1 
The Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco (‘the Fisheries Agreement’), the Implementation Protocol thereto and the Exchange of Letters accompanying the Fisheries Agreement are hereby approved on behalf of the Union.
The text of the Fisheries Agreement, of the Implementation Protocol thereto, including the Annex and Appendices to that Protocol, and of the Exchange of Letters accompanying the Fisheries Agreement is attached to this Decision.
Article 2 
In accordance with the conditions laid down in the Annex to this Decision, the Commission is empowered to approve, on behalf of the Union, the amendments to the Implementation Protocol to the Fisheries Agreement that are adopted by the Joint Committee established under Article 13 of the Fisheries Agreement.
Article 3 
The President of the Council shall, on behalf of the Union, give the notification provided for in Article 17 of the Fisheries Agreement and Article 15 of the Implementation Protocol thereto.
Article 4 
This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Done at Brussels, 4 March 2019.
For the Council
The President
A. ANTON
ANNEX
1. 

((a)) adjustment of the fishing opportunities and, as a consequence, of the financial contribution referred to in Article 12(2)(a) and (b) of the Fisheries Agreement;
((b)) sectoral support arrangements and, as a consequence, the financial contribution referred to in Article 12(2)(c) of the Fisheries Agreement;
((c)) the technical conditions and arrangements under which Union vessels carry out their fishing activities.

2. 

((a)) act in accordance with its objectives with regard to the common fisheries policy;
((b)) promote positions that are consistent with the relevant rules adopted by regional fisheries management organisations and take account of joint management by coastal States.

3. When a decision on amendments to the Implementation Protocol referred to in point 1 is to be adopted during a Joint Committee meeting, the necessary steps shall be taken so as to ensure that the position to be expressed on behalf of the Union takes account of the latest statistical, biological and other relevant information transmitted to the Commission.

4. To that effect and based on that information, a document setting out the particulars of the proposed Union position shall be transmitted by the Commission services, in sufficient time before the relevant Joint Committee meeting, to the Council or to its preparatory bodies for consideration and approval.

5. In respect of the issues referred to in point 1(a), the approval of the envisaged Union position by the Council shall require a qualified majority of votes. In the other cases, the Union position envisaged in the preparatory document shall be deemed to be agreed, unless a number of Member States equivalent to a blocking minority objects during a meeting of the Council's preparatory body or within 20 days from receipt of the preparatory document, whichever occurs earlier. In case of such objection, the matter shall be referred to the Council.

6. If, in the course of further meetings, including on the spot, it is impossible to reach an agreement in order for the Union position to take account of new elements, the matter shall be referred to the Council or its preparatory bodies.

7. The Commission is invited to take, in due time, any steps necessary as a follow up to the decision of the Joint Committee, including, where appropriate, a publication of the relevant decision in the Official Journal of the European Union and a submission of any proposal necessary for the implementation of that decision.
