24.3.2017   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 93/248

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having regard to the draft Council decision (11871/2013),

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having regard to the draft protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Gabonese Republic (11875/2013),

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having regard to the request for consent submitted by the Council in accordance with Article 43 and Article 218(6), second subparagraph, point (a), and (7), of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (C7-0484/2013),

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having regard to Rules 81 and 90(7) of its Rules of Procedure,

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having regard to its resolution of 25 October 2012 on the EU 2011 Report on Policy Coherence for Development (1),

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having regard to the recommendation of the Committee on Fisheries and the opinions of the Committee on Development and the Committee on Budgets (A7-0049/2014),

1.

Consents to conclusion of the protocol;

2.

Calls on the Commission to forward to Parliament the minutes and the conclusions of the meetings of the Joint Committee provided for in Article 9 of the Agreement, as well as the multiannual sectoral programme provided for in Article 3 of the protocol and the corresponding annual evaluations, and the minutes and the conclusions of the meetings provided for in Article 4 of the protocol; calls on the Commission to facilitate the participation of representatives of Parliament as observers in the meetings of the Joint Committee; calls on the Commission to submit to Parliament and the Council, within the last year of application of the protocol and before the opening of negotiations for its renewal, a full report on its implementation, gauging the uptake of fishing opportunities and assessing the cost-effectiveness of the protocol; maintains that there should be no unnecessary restrictions on access to that report;

3.

Calls on the Council and the Commission, acting within the limits of their respective powers, to keep Parliament immediately and fully informed at all stages of the procedures related to the new protocol and its renewal, pursuant to Article 13(2) of the Treaty on European Union and Article 218(10) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union;

4.

Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States and of the Gabonese Republic.