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(1) The Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of the People’s Republic of Angola on fishing off Angola (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’) was signed in Luanda on 1 February 1989 and entered into force on that date pursuant to Article 15 thereof.

(2) The last Protocol annexed to the Agreement, which set out, for the period from 3 August 2002 to 2 August 2004, the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Agreement , has not been renewed, since certain conditions laid down in the new legislative framework on Biological Aquatic Resources adopted by the Government of the Republic of Angola in October 2004 were incompatible with the Community’s requirements for fishing by Community fishing vessels in the waters of Angola.

(3) It is therefore appropriate to denounce that Agreement in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 14 thereof.

(4) Under Council Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 of 17 December 1999 laying down the detailed rules and arrangements regarding the Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector , the Member States may grant compensation to fishermen and owners of vessels for the temporary cessation of activities where a fisheries agreement is not renewed, or where it is suspended, for the Community fleets dependent on the agreement. The granting of compensation may not last longer than six months. It may be extended by a further six months provided a conversion plan approved by the Commission is implemented for the fleet concerned.

(5) On 18 July 2005 the Commission adopted a Decision approving the conversion plan for fishing vessels affected by the non-renewal of the fishing protocol between the European Community and the Republic of Angola within the framework of the FIFG operational programme relating to Community structural interventions in the fisheries sector for Objective I regions in Spain during the 2000 to 2006 period.

(6) In order to facilitate the implementation of that conversion plan, Community fishing vessels covered by the plan which, as a result of this denunciation, cease their activities under the Agreement should be exempted from certain provisions of Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999. In particular, they should not be subject to the obligation to reimburse public aid for the temporary cessation of activities or for renewal, modernisation or equipment or to the obligation to demonstrate continuous activity in the year preceding their deletion from the Community’s fishing vessel register,