Madam President, I would like to refer briefly to the earlier debate simply to ask the Commissioner to promote all these possible measures to help Galicia as much as you can, and try to speed them up, because those suffering from the damage in Galicia have identity cards and human faces; they are the fishermen, their neighbours, small businessmen, etc. It is true that whoever causes damage should pay for it, and here those responsible are hiding behind a legal web, under the umbrella of an anonymous public limited company, and here I mean ‘anonymous’ in the literal sense of the word. Perhaps, Commissioner, it would be a good idea to promote measures for transparency, clarity and flexibility as well within the scope of maritime trading legislation. I shall now move on to the EU/Senegal Fisheries Agreement, to say that we should set out fisheries possibilities in Senegalese waters and the financial contribution. I believe that the conclusion of a new protocol on fisheries relations between Senegal and the European Union – which is of particular importance following the failed agreement with Morocco – should be welcomed. As you said, the impact of the protocol on fish populations in Senegalese waters is minimal, given that the fisheries activities of the European Union only represent between 1.7% and 3% of total catches in the area. Furthermore, fishing possibilities for EU vessels have been decreased on sensitive stocks and technical measures including a two-month biological rest period have been agreed to give more protection to fish stocks and to minimise the risk of competition with the artisanal fleet. I do not want to say too much because a great deal of data already appears in the report. Allow me, however, to say that with regard to demersal species, the opportunities for pelagic fishing have vanished and the opportunities for tuna fishing have remained at the same level. Allow me to say also that financial compensation from the EU will increase from EUR 12 million to EUR 16 million annually and of these EUR 16 million, EUR 3 million will be allocated to specific measures: developing local industry and the informal commitment – what a pity this is not included in the agreement – by the Senegalese authorities to pass on 50% of total compensation to the sector, which is important because the Senegalese economy is heavily dependent on fishing and one in six Senegalese nationals of working age works in this sector. I would also highlight that the biological rest period is obligatory unlike the simple provisions of the previous agreement, and states that the aim of prohibiting deep-sea fishing is to foster the conservation of vulnerable species and promote the small fishing sector and defend the sustainability of fishing in Senegal. All of which, like the setting of lower by-catch rates and larger mesh sizes, demonstrates the importance of this. It is equally important to ensure an increased number of Senegalese seamen on board EU vessels. I would like, Commissioner, to emphasise a reference to Amendment No 3, which has a clear social content – I am a member of the Committee on Social Affairs – and, overall, sets out similar working conditions, rights and freedoms for all seamen on board EU vessels, whether or not they are EU seamen. The European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights therefore does not draw any distinctions and its first article states that human dignity is inviolable. In conclusion, this seems to be a good agreement: an achievable agreement is always the best one. The agreement is clearly a meeting of wills, and often – almost always - both parties must make concessions in order to reach the agreement. The Members of this Parliament are not in the habit of offering congratulations, but I believe this is a good agreement and we should congratulate the Commission.

Political group: PPE-DE