RESOLUTION(1)

on the impact of structural assistance to the European fisheries sector on the sustainable development of the ACP fisheries sector

The ACP-EU Joint Assembly,

- meeting in Strasbourg (France) from 29 March to 1 April 1999,

A. having regard to its previous resolutions on fisheries, particularly those referring to the ACP fisheries sector and the 8th EDF, and ACP-EU Cooperation in the fisheries sector beyond the year 2000,

B. having regard to the EU's legal obligation under the Maastricht Treaty to ensure coherence between its various policies, including the Common Fisheries Policy and the policy for development cooperation,

C. having regard to the commitment taken through the Amsterdam Treaty, to integrate sustainable development principles in other EU policies (Art. 2 and Art. 6),

D. having regard to the commitment of the European Union to apply the principles enshrined in the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries,

E. having regard to Court of Auditors report No 18/98 on Community measures to encourage the creation of joint enterprises in the fisheries sector, and particularly the criticisms of how disbursements have been managed,

F. having regard to the proposal of the European Commission regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector (COM (1998) 728 final), particularly the redefinition of joint enterprises,

G. recognising that the overall objective of ACP-EU fisheries relations is to promote the development of fisheries activities in ways which conserve fish stocks and maximise the valorisation/value of ACP fisheries resources, and which also take into account, in priority order, the needs of the local population for access to fishery resources, food, employment and income,

1. Is convinced that the aim of the creation of joint enterprises should be to improve the economic efficiency and equity of fishing operations, at local level, of the ACP countries, keeping in mind that the basic objective is the sustainable development of the fisheries sector in the ACP countries through maintenance of a productive resource base;

2. Estimates that the lack of information on the state of stocks in ACP waters, on fishery activities undertaken through joint enterprises in ACP States (subsidised by European structural funds), and on their impact on local ACP fishery sector development, calls for the application of a precautionary approach in this area;

3. Estimates further in this context that special long-term efforts are required by ACP countries in collaboration with their EU partners to strengthen ACP human and institutional capacity in order to analyse and manage the sector through training and high quality joint research;

4. Notes that the strengthening of ACP economic and policy analysis and of monitoring and control capabilities are thematic priorities which should be commensurate with the requirements of managing complex fisheries;

5. Notes that there are risks in encouraging, via joint enterprises established in ACP countries, the over-exploitation of ACP fishery resources, which can distort competition for both resources and markets with the existing fisheries (capture and processing), particularly the artisanal sector;

6. Asks, within the framework of the review of the rules and arrangements regarding European Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector, that:

- the objective of the structural measures to help achieve "a sustainable balance between fish stocks and their exploitation..." be taken into account not only in Community waters but also in all waters where the Community fleets are actively deployed, in particular the waters of ACP States; and furthermore, maintains that

- the objective of the structural measures "to strengthen competitiveness and contribute to the development of economically viable enterprises..." and "to revitalise areas dependent on fisheries" should not be achieved through subsidising forms of partnership which encourage competition for resources with local ACP fisheries sector or which increase competition for markets with local existing ACP fisheries sector enterprises (particularly in the artisanal sector);

- the objective of the structural measures to establish joint enterprises "to improve the supply of fishery products in the European market..." should not undermine market access for existing local ACP enterprises, particularly in the artisanal sector, nor undermine the food security of the local population in ACP states;

7. Recommends that support be provided to ACP states to enable them to control the activities of foreign (including European) fishing fleets and joint enterprises, and to develop, with the participation of the local fisheries sector, policies which include detailed plans for the management of marine fishery resources and fleets, as has been recommended by the FAO;

8. Proposes that, as a result of this plan, a coherent strategy be defined between the European Union and every ACP state, in association with the local ACP fisheries sector stakeholders, particularly those in the artisanal fishery, which will take into account the different aspects of the existing EU and foreign fleets presence (through fisheries agreements, joint enterprises, etc), as much in these countries as in those in the region;

9. Asks the European Union to undertake to ensure that all planned vessel transfers do not infringe international law or undermine the conservation and resource management policies put in place by the ACP states;

10. Asks that, within this framework, the global access of European fleets should be based on a preliminary scientific resource assessment, carried out jointly and/or by independent experts, an evaluation of the local access needs (particularly for the artisanal sector) as regards food security, employment and income, and access given to other foreign fleets;

11. Believes that, in order to achieve reduced fishing capacity in European waters and to avoid over-exploitation of ACP fisheries resources, EU structural assistance should promote alternatives to the export of fishing capacity to ACP countries;

12. Notwithstanding paragraph 8 above, and in conformity with relevant provisions of Title III, in particular Articles 58, 59 and 60 of the Fourth ACP-EU Convention of Lomé, necessary measures will be taken by the European Community and its Member States with the aim of finding avenues for closer cooperation between the EU and ACP States within the framework of well-defined joint ventures or ACP projects, in order, inter alia, to enhance ACP capacity to undertake economically viable fishing activities, including those related to industrial fishing;

13. Takes the view that structural aid should be used to promote the adoption of more selective fishing methods and gear by European vessels operating in ACP waters;

14. Recommends that the construction of European vessels primarily destined to fish in ACP waters should be discouraged, particularly where they increase pressure on ACP fish stocks which are either of unknown status or already locally exploited, and where they make no contribution to reducing the pressure on resources in European waters (which is the objective of the structural measures);

15. Asks the Commission to report back regularly on the measures taken regarding the application of the present resolution, particularly with regards to resources assessment in an ecosystem context; furthermore related support should be given to management for sustainable use;

16. Encourages ACP governments at national or provincial levels, as appropriate, to establish protected marine areas in order to conserve the productivity of their waters and replenish heavily fished areas, and thus also safeguard marine biodiversity for multiple purposes;

17. Encourages the development of new relationships between governments and private sector operators, small-scale and industrial alike, to underpin such sustainable management approaches for mutual benefit;

18. Instructs its Co-Presidents to forward this resolution to the ACP-EU Council and the Commission.

(1) Adopted by the ACP-EU Joint Assembly on 1 April 1999 in Strasbourg (France).