L 184/12 Official Journal of the European Union 16.7.2009 I (Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is not obligatory) DECISIONS COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 5 March 2009 on the approval of amendments to the Convention on future multilateral cooperation in the North- East Atlantic Fisheries allowing for the establishment of dispute settlement procedures, the extension of the scope of the Convention and a review of the objectives of the Convention (2009/550/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37, in conjunction with date of notification by the Depositary of receipt of written notification of approval by three-fourths of all Contracting Parties. Article 300(2) and the first subparagraph of Article 300(3) (4)  The Contracting Parties to the Convention adopted an thereof, amendment to the Convention at the 23rd Annual Meeting of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) in November 2004 allowing NEAFC to adopt ) o recommendations  establishing  procedures for the Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, settlement of disputes arising from the Convention. Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament ('), (5) By postal vote on 11 August 2006 the Contracting Parties to the Convention adopted an amendment to the Convention whereby the scope of the Convention Whereas: was extended so as to include sedentary species and the objectives of the Convention were broadened. The Convention was also amended so as to mention devel- ) ) o opments in other international forums for fisheries (1) The Convention on future multilateral cooperation in the management that affect fisheries in the NEAFC North-East  Atlantic Fisheries (the Convention), was Convention area, and certain new definitions were intro- signed in London on 18 November 1980 and entered duced. into force on 17 March 1982. (6)  Sedentary species are harvested or affected by fisheries (2)  The Community acceded to the Convention on 13 July and it is therefore appropriate to include those species 1981 (3. in the scope of the Convention. 3) According to Article 19(2) of the Convention the 7) The Convention provides that NEAFC shall perform its adoption of an amendment to the Convention requires a three-fourths majority of all Contracting Parties. In accordance with Article 19(3) of the Convention, an amendment will take effect 120 days following the (") Opinion of 19 February 2009 (not yet published in the Official Journal). () OJ L 227, 12.8.1981, p. 21. functions in the interest of the conservation and optimum utilisation of fishery resources. In addition to these objectives, it is important to underline the importance of long-term management and that the management of fishery resources should provide sustainable  economic, environmental and social benefits. It is therefore appropriate to include these elements as objectives in the Convention.