Annex 1 — PROCEDURE FOR THE APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS TO THE PROTOCOL TO BE ADOPTED BY THE JOINT COMMITTEE

Where the Joint Committee is asked to adopt amendments to the Protocol under Article 10 of the Agreement and Article 16 of the Protocol, the Commission is authorised to approve the proposed amendments on behalf of the Union, under the following conditions: (1) The Commission shall ensure that the approval on behalf of the Union: (a) is in accordance with the objectives of the common fisheries policy; (b) is consistent with the relevant rules adopted by regional fisheries management organisations and takes account of joint management by coastal states; (c) takes account of the most recent statistical, biological and other relevant information sent to the Commission. (2) Before approving the proposed amendments on behalf of the Union, the Commission shall submit them to the Council in sufficient time before the relevant Joint Committee meeting. (3) The Council shall assess whether the proposed amendments comply with the criteria laid down in point 1. (4) Unless a number of Member States equivalent to a blocking minority in the Council, in accordance with Article 16(4) of the Treaty on European Union, object to the proposed amendments, the Commission shall approve them on behalf of the Union. If there is such a blocking minority, the Commission shall reject the proposed amendments on behalf of the Union. (5) If, in the course of subsequent meetings of the Joint Committee, including on-the-spot meetings, it is impossible to reach an agreement, the matter shall be referred back to the Council, in accordance with the procedure set out in points 2, 3 and 4, in order for the Union position to take account of new factors. (6) The Commission is invited to take, in due time, any steps necessary to follow up on the decision of the Joint Committee, including, where appropriate, publishing the relevant decision in the Official Journal of the European Union and submitting any proposal necessary for the implementation of that decision. As regards other matters which do not concern amendments to the Protocol, in accordance with Article 10 of the Agreement and Article 16 of the Protocol, the position to be adopted by the Union within the Joint Committee shall be determined in accordance with the Treaties and established working practices.