COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2025/1300

of 17 June 2025

establishing the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Partnership Council established by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, as regards decision No 1/2025 of the Partnership Council

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 43(2) thereof, in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) The Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part (‘the Trade and Cooperation Agreement’ or ‘the Agreement’) was concluded by the Union by means of Council Decision (EU) 2021/689 (1) and entered into force on 1 May 2021, having been provisionally applied since 1 January 2021.

(2) Pursuant to Article 519(b) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the Partnership Council established under the Agreement may adopt decisions to issue interpretations of the provisions of Part Two of the Agreement.

(3) Article 508(2)(d) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement provides that the Specialised Committee on Fisheries established under the Agreement may adopt measures, including decisions and recommendations, in relation to any other aspect of cooperation on sustainable fisheries management under Heading Five of Part Two of the Agreement.

(4) The Partnership Council is to adopt at its next meeting or by written procedure a decision interpreting Article 508(2)(d) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

(5) It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the Partnership Council as regards the interpretation of Article 508(2)(d) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the Partnership Council established by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, as regards the interpretation of Article 508(2)(d) of that Agreement is set out in the draft decision of the Partnership Council attached to this Decision.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Luxembourg, 17 June 2025.

For the Council

The President

P. HENNIG-KLOSKA

(1) Council Decision (EU) 2021/689 of 29 April 2021 on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, and of the Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning security procedures for exchanging and protecting classified information (

OJ L 149, 30.4.2021, p. 2

, ELI:

http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2021/689/oj

DRAFT

DECISION No 1/2025 OF THE PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL ESTABLISHED BY THE TRADE AND COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE EUROPEAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMUNITY, OF THE ONE PART, AND THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND, OF THE OTHER PART

of …

issuing an interpretation of Article 508(2)(d) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part

THE PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL,

Having regard to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part (‘the Agreement’), and in particular Article 519(b) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) The adjustment period provided for in Annex 38 to the Agreement, during which each Party grants to vessels of the other Party full access to its waters to fish, ends on 30 June 2026.

(2) In accordance with Article 500(1) of the Agreement, which applies after 30 June 2026, each Party is to grant vessels of the other Party access to fish in its waters in the relevant ICES sub-areas for the relevant year at a level and on conditions determined in the annual consultations, provided that TACs have been agreed.

(3) The Parties wish to provide for multiannual full access to waters to fish for a specified time period after June 2026.

(4) Article 508(2)(b) in conjunction with Article 508(1)(l) of the Agreement empowers the Specialised Committee on Fisheries to adopt decisions on the development of guidelines to support the practical application of Article 500 of the Agreement. Moreover, Article 508(2)(d) of the Agreement empowers that Committee to adopt decisions in relation to any other aspect of cooperation on sustainable fisheries management.

(5) It is appropriate, in that context, to issue an interpretation of Article 508(2)(d) of the Agreement to clarify the basis on which the Specialised Committee on Fisheries may adopt such a Decision,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The term ‘cooperation on sustainable fisheries management’ in Article 508(2)(d) of the Agreement shall be interpreted, solely for the purpose of that provision, as including the adopting of a decision by the Specialised Committee on Fisheries to provide for multiannual full access to waters to fish for a specified time period which is to be considered for the purposes of Article 500(1) and (4) of the Agreement as the agreed outcome of annual consultations (including in the case of access under Article 500(5) of the Agreement in the event that provisional TACs are set under Article 499 of the Agreement).

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on …

Done at Brussels and London, … 2025.

For the Partnership Council

The Co-Chairs

Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ

Nick THOMAS-SYMONDS

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1300/oj

ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)