18.1.2008 Official Journal of the European Union L 151 (Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is obligatory) REGULATIONS COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 31/2008 of 15 November 2007 on the conclusion of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Madagascar THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37 in conjunction with Article 300(2) and the first subparagraph of Article 300(3) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament, Whereas: (1) The Community and the Republic of Madagascar have negotiated and initialled a Fisheries Partnership Agreement providing Community fishermen with fishing opportunities in the waters falling within the sovereignty of the Republic of Madagascar. () It is in the Community’s interest to approve that Agreement. (3)  The method for allocating the fishing opportunities among the Member States should be defined, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 The Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Madagascar is hereby approved on behalf of the Community. The text of the Agreement is attached to this Regulation (). Article 2 The fishing opportunities set out in the Protocol to the Agreement shall be allocated among the Member States as follows: Fishing Type of vessel Member State Licences or category quota Tuna Freezer tuna seiners Spain 23 fishing France 19 Italy 1 Tuna Surface longliners over | Spain 25 fishing 100 GT France 13 Portugal 7 United 5 Kingdom Tuna Surface longliners of France 26 fishing 100 GT or below Demersal | Exploratory line or France 5 fishing bottom longline fishing If licence applications from these Member States do not cover all the fishing opportunities laid down by the Protocol, the Commission may take into consideration licence applications from any other Member State. (") For the text of the Agreement, see O] L 331, 17.12.2007, p. 7.