P6_TA(2004)0007

EU-Madagascar fishing agreement *

European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council regulation on the conclusion of the Protocol defining for the period 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2006 the tuna fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for in the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Democratic Republic of Madagascar on fishing off Madagascar (COM(2004) 0218 — C5-0186/2004 — 2004/0070(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the proposal for a Council regulation (COM(2004) 0218) [1],

- having regard to Articles 37 and 300(2) of the EC Treaty,

- having regard to Article 300(3), first subparagraph, of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C5-0186/2004),

- having regard to Rules 51 and 83(7) of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Fisheries and the opinion of the Committee on Development (A6-0002/2004),

1. Approves the proposal for a Council regulation as amended and approves conclusion of the protocol;

2. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and Commission and to the governments and parliaments of the Member States and the Democratic Republic of Madagascar.

TEXT PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION | AMENDMENTS BY PARLIAMENT |

Amendment 1

Recital 4a (new)

| (4a) The protection of the EU's fisheries interests must be coordinated with the sustainable management of fishery resources in economic, social and environmental terms, and with the development of coastal populations living on fisheries. |

Amendment 2

Recital 4b (new)

| (4b) The Commission should continue with its impact assessment studies concerning the sustainable character of the Agreement with Madagascar. |

Amendment 3

Recital 4c (new)

| (4c) The Commission should ensure that allocated funds are fully applied for the purposes established in the Agreement, and should monitor its impact on local populations' development, in particular the coastal communities living on traditional fisheries. |

Amendment 4

Article 3a (new)

| Article 3a The Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and the Council the annual report provided for in Article 3(5) of the Protocol, including an analysis of the use of the funds earmarked for targeted measures. |

Amendment 5

Article 3b (new)

| Article 3b During the last year in which the Protocol is in force and prior to commencing any negotiations on its renewal, the Commission shall submit a general assessment report to the European Parliament and the Council, including a cost-benefit analysis, the utilisation of the fishing opportunities and an assessment of the implementation of the targeted measures, so that the economic, social and environmental impact of the Protocol can be examined. |

Amendment 6

Article 3c (new)

| Article 3c On the basis of the above reports and taking due account of the European Parliament's opinion thereon, the Council shall, if appropriate, then authorise the Commission to open negotiations with a view to concluding a new Protocol. |

[1] Not yet published in OJ.

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