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(1) The Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (‘the Agreement’), approved by means of Council Regulation (EC) No 241/2008 , entered into force on 15 April 2008. The Agreement is renewed automatically and remains in force. The Protocol thereto, which sets out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Agreement, expired on 14 June 2024.

(2) On 14 February 2024, the Council adopted a Decision authorising the Commission to open negotiations with Guinea-Bissau for the conclusion of a new Protocol implementing the Agreement.

(3) The Commission has negotiated, on behalf of the Union, a new Protocol implementing the Agreement. As a result of those negotiations, the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (2024–2029) (‘the Protocol’) was initialled on 16 May 2024.

(4) In accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2024/2588 , the Protocol was signed on 18 September 2024, subject to its conclusion at a later date.

(5) The fishing opportunities provided for in the Protocol, established in line with the scientific advice and the recommendations of the Joint Scientific Committee and in accordance with the recommendations and resolutions adopted by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, should be allocated among Member States for the entire period of its application.

(6) These measures are urgent given the economic importance of Union fishing activities in Guinea-Bissau’s fishing zone and the need to keep to a minimum any interruption of those activities. The Protocol will therefore apply on a provisional basis as from the date it is signed in order to allow Union vessels to carry out their fishing activity as soon as possible. This Regulation should therefore apply from the same date,