Resolution on international and multilateral agreements in the fisheries sector
Date: 1996-03-28
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: EP assent, fishing agreement, international agreement, international negotiations













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51996IP0309

Resolution on international and multilateral agreements in the fisheries sector  


Official Journal C 117 , 22/04/1996 P. 0059 





B4-0309, 0312 and 0316/96Resolution on international and multilateral agreements in the fisheries sectorThe European Parliament,- having regard to its previous resolutions on fisheries agreements with third countries, in particular its resolution of 19 February 1987 on fisheries agreements with developing countries ((OJ C 76, 23.3.1987, p. 123.)),- having regard to Article 228 of the EC Treaty and, in particular, paragraph 3 thereof,- mindful of the stipulation contained in Article 130v of the Treaty on European Union committing the EU to take account of the objectives of development cooperation policy 'in the policies that it implements which are likely to affect developing countries¨,A. whereas international fisheries agreements taken together are of fundamental importance to the common fisheries policy and the budget and whereas many of these agreements show an objective development between the first and the third generation,B. whereas the majority of international agreements concern the developing countries and represent a major stimulus to growth in those countries,C. whereas a balance must be struck between the legitimate interests of both parties,D. whereas in many cases international agreements give rise to overfishing and have posed significant problems for the protection of fisheries and environmental resources, for research and development of small-scale fishing activities and fishing for local consumption, and for local ad hoc training measures and employment,E. whereas the administration of some international agreements has been the sole responsibility of the governments of the third countries and the Union's representatives (Council and Commission) with no monitoring of the effective flow of financial resources or of their utilization in accordance with the protocols which have been signed, with the resulting risk that fishing rights have been distributed to the almost exclusive benefit of a small number of shipowners linked to the processing industry,F. whereas there are very large discrepancies among the agreements, in particular between the cost of an agreement and the jobs created in the Community,G. noting that Parliament is always consulted too late, under pressure and without the necessary information for assessing the impact of an agreement (conditions of access, impact on employment in the Community, on small-scale fishing in third countries and on fishery resources), which leads to a lack of transparency and a democratic deficit,1. Calls for a requirement that the legal part of the international agreements be negotiated under Parliament's assent procedure, since this is a fundamental matter both for the reform of the common fisheries policy and for the Intergovernmental Conference, which is to redefine the Union's tasks and functions;2. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission.