
Article 1 
The Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Gabonese Republic is hereby approved on behalf of the Union.
Article 2 
The President of the Council shall, on behalf of the Union, make the notification provided for in Article 15 of the Protocol.
Article 3 
Subject to the provisions and conditions set out in the Annex, the Commission shall be empowered to approve, on behalf of the Union, modifications to the Protocol in the Joint Committee.
Article 4 
This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.
Done at Luxembourg, 14 April 2014.
For the Council
The President
A. TSAFTARIS
ANNEX
1. 

((a)) review of fishing opportunities in accordance with Article 5 and 6 of the Protocol;
((b)) decision on the modalities of the sectoral support in accordance with Article 3 of the Protocol;
((c)) technical specifications and modalities falling within the powers of the Joint Committee in accordance with the Annex to the Protocol.

2. 

((a)) act in accordance with the objectives pursued by the Union within the framework of the Common Fisheries Policy,
((b)) be in line with the Council Conclusions of 19 March 2012 on a Communication on the external dimension of the Common Fisheries Policy,
((c)) promote positions that are consistent with the relevant rules adopted by Regional Fisheries Management Organisations.

3. 
To this 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.

In respect of issues referred to in paragraph 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.

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.

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.
