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 2008 the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for in the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of the Republic of Guinea on fishing off the Guinean coast (COM(2003) 765 — C5-0024/2004 — 2003/0290(CNS))
Date: 2004-04-01
Institutions: Committee on Fisheries, European Parliament
Subjects: Guinea, agreement (EU), deep-sea fishing, financial compensation of an agreement, fishing agreement, fishing rights

29.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 103 E/775

Thursday 1 April 2004

P5_TA(2004)0256

Community fishing vessels operating in the NAFO Regulatory Area *

European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council regulation amending
Regulation (EC) No 3069/95 establishing a European Community observer scheme applicable to
Community fishing vessels operating in the Regulatory Area of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries
Organisation (NAFO) (COM(2003) 611 (cid:1) C5-0515/2003 (cid:1) 2003/0237(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

(cid:1) having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2003) 611) (1),

(cid:1) having regard to Article 37 of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament

(C5-0515/2003),

(cid:1) having regard to Rule 67 of its Rules of Procedure,

(cid:1) having regard to the report of the Committee on Fisheries (A5-0165/2004),

1.

2.

Approves the Commission proposal;

Calls on the Council to notify Parliament if it intends to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

Asks the Council to consult Parliament again if it intends to amend the Commission proposal sub-

3.
stantially;

4.

Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and Commission.

(1) Not yet published in the OJ.

P5_TA(2004)0257

EC-Guinea fisheries agreement *

European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council regulation on the con-
clusion of the protocol defining for the period 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2008 the fishing
opportunities and the financial contribution provided for in the Agreement between the European
Economic Community and the Government of the Republic of Guinea on fishing off the Guinean
coast (COM(2003) 765 (cid:1) C5-0024/2004 (cid:1) 2003/0290(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

(cid:1) having regard to the proposal for a Council decision (COM(2003) 765) (1),

(cid:1) having regard to Article 37 and Article 300(3), first subparagraph, of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which

the Council consulted Parliament (C5-0024/2004),

(1) Not yet published in the OJ.

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(cid:1) having regard to Rules 67 and 97(7) of its Rules of Procedure,

(cid:1) having regard to the report of the Committee on Fisheries and the opinions of the Committee on

Budgets and the Committee on Development and Cooperation (A5-0164/2004),

1.

Approves the Commission proposal as amended and approves conclusion of the protocol;

Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and Commission, and the governments

2.
and parliaments of the Member States and the Republic of Guinea.

TEXT PROPOSED
BY THE COMMISSION

AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

Amendment 1
Recital 4a (new)

(4a) The protocol must meet all criteria of applicable
treaties concerning fisheries, development and the environ-
ment signed by the European Union.

Amendment 2
Recital 4b (new)

(4b) The protocol must guarantee that additional fishing
opportunities are subject to the participation of local fis-
hermen and companies and the availability of tangible evi-
dence of the practice of sustainable management in economic,
social and environmental terms in the fishing area.

Amendment 3
Recital 4c (new)

(4c) The protocol must assure that the Government of the
Republic of Guinea spend the compensation in order to
improve the economic, social and environmental situation of
the people of the Republic of Guinea.

Amendment 4
Recital 4d (new)

(4d) The protocol must protect the interest of local coastal
communities living on fisheries whereas they are often not in
the position to do so for themselves.

Amendment 5
Recital 4e (new)

(4e) The protocol must seek that the European Community,
in contributing financially towards the reinforcement of fis-
heries surveillance activities, effectively assures the fight
against illegal fishing.

29.4.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 103 E/777

TEXT PROPOSED
BY THE COMMISSION

Thursday 1 April 2004

AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

Amendment 6
Recital 4f (new)

(4f) The protocol must guarantee that the joint ventures set
up between Community operators and Guinean operators
encourage the participation of the local community and
improve the economic situation of the people of the Republic
of Guinea.

Amendment 7
Recital 4g (new)

the protection of
(4g) The protocol must guarantee
mammals and birds from nets and long lines by use of any
environmentally-friendly methods.

Amendment 8
Recital 4h (new)

(4h) The protocol must look at the possibilities for devel-
oping a surveillance policy with neighbouring countries to
provide better collaboration and protection of fish stocks in
the region.

Amendment 9
Article 2a (new)

Article 2a

Levels of fishing opportunities for all fleet segments in the
present protocol should be re-evaluated following the conclu-
sions of the scientific sub-committee of the Fishery Commit-
tee for the Eastern Central Atlantic (CECAF), meeting in
February 2004.

Amendment 10
Article 2b (new)

Article 2b

In the course of the protocol’s application, and before the
start of negotiations on its possible renewal, the Commission
shall submit to the European Parliament and the Council a
general assessment report including a cost benefit analysis
and an evaluation on the implementation of the targeted
measures.

Amendment 11
Article 2c (new)

Article 2c

Fishing opportunities for fin-fish and cephalopod trawlers
should be considered in 2005 or 2006, in the light of evi-
dence of the status of all stocks affected.

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TEXT PROPOSED
BY THE COMMISSION

AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

Amendment 12
Article 2d (new)

Article 2d

Fishing opportunities for fin-fish and cephalopod trawlers
should not be increased in 2005 or 2006 unless there is
clear and unequivocal evidence of a significant improvement
in the status of all stocks affected by these fleets. The Euro-
pean Parliament should be consulted on any increase and
should be provided with the scientific justification.

Amendment 13
Article 2e (new)

Article 2e

The Council shall, on the basis of the report referred to in
Article 2b and taking account of the European Parliament’s
opinion thereon, authorise the Commission, where appropri-
ate, to start negotiations with a view to the adoption of a
new protocol.

Amendment 14
Article 2f (new)

Article 2f

The Commission will produce by the end of 2004 a study
into the possible means of converting sums currently included
as ‘targeted measures’ into specific projects funded by the
Commission that are subject to proper auditing with verifi-
cation of the project results.

Amendment 15
Article 2g (new)

Article 2g

The Commission shall report on the feasibility of funding a
coordinated, regional surveillance programme in the waters of
CECAF that would include both aerial and maritime com-
ponents.

Amendment 16
Article 2h (new)

Article 2h

In cases where Member States fail to submit to the Commis-
sion data on catches by vessels flying their flag, the Commis-
sion should consider initiating legal proceedings against the
offending Member States and, if the situation persists, revok-
ing access rights.