B4-1264, 1283, 1291 and 1300/96

Resolution on the lack of success of the fisheries negotiations between the EU and Senegal

The European Parliament,

A. having regard to the lack of success of the negotiations with Senegal for renewal of the fishing agreement that expired on 1 November 1996,

B. whereas the disagreement mainly concerns the catch opportunities in the territorial waters of Senegal and the financial compensation that Europe will have to pay to Senegal under the future fishing agreement,

C. whereas following this lack of success the activity of European fishing vessels covered by the agreements has been suspended,

D. whereas Senegal has always indicated its intention of doing its best to protect the species living in its waters and to permit their balanced reproduction, in order to safeguard sustainable exploitation of its resources,

E. whereas the technologies of the European industrial vessels may endanger the continuation and development of indigenous non-industrial fishing, which is an important resource for the inhabitants of Senegal's coastal regions, and whereas it is reasonable for Senegal to want to protect them,

F. whereas, from the point of view of developing countries, fisheries agreements represent significant aid to their socio-economic development,

G. whereas fisheries agreements with developing countries must include clauses to conserve the biological equilibrium of resources and to support local non-industrial fishing, in compliance with the Fourth Lomé Convention, as revised by the agreement signed in Mauritius on 4 November 1995,

H. whereas the European Union's fisheries agreements with third countries constitute an important element of the common fisheries policy and provide a quarter of the Union's fish supplies,

I. deploring the fact that no date has been fixed for the resumption of negotiations,

The European Parliament,

1. Calls on the two parties to reopen negotiations with a view to reaching an agreement which respects the need to conserve the marine resources of Senegal and its coastal neighbours, and the interests of local non- industrial fishing, so that European vessels can resume their operations;

2. Calls on the EU to undertake not to endanger the interests of Senegal's non- industrial fisheries through the operations of fishing vessels from the Member States and to include specific guarantees on this subject in the new protocol;

3. Calls on the Community to recognize the importance of pelagic species to the Senegalese non-industrial fleet and to the food security of the local populace, and to accept the right of the Government of Senegal to determine whether exploitation of these species would be detrimental to their interests;

4. Urges that the financial compensation be devoted to development projects and that small-scale fisheries development projects be included in the agreement;

5. Calls on the European Union to undertake, in Senegal as elsewhere, to comply with fishing conditions which do not threaten the survival of species, small-scale fisheries and local populations which depend on them for their food security;

6. Stresses the possibilities available under the Lomé Convention and the EDF for funding projects to modernize the indigenous fisheries of ACP countries by means of regional and national indicative programmes;

7. Underlines the importance of cooperation between the Member States of the Union and the developing countries in this matter, particularly in the context of joint ventures;

8. Calls on the Government of Senegal to promote the participation of Senegalese fishermen's organizations in the management of marine resources;

9. Stresses the importance of safeguarding fisheries resources, in terms of both the survival and future of the fishermen of the European Union and the developing countries, and calls on the Commission to ensure that, in any fisheries agreement with a developing country, in addition to an assessment of the economic and commercial advantages, account is taken of this aspect of the matter;

10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Government of Senegal, the Co-Presidents of the ACP-EU Joint Assembly, the Secretary-General of the OAU and the governments of Mauritania, Gambia, Guinea Bissau and Guinea.