P6_TA(2004)0006

EU-Mauritius fishing agreement *

European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council regulation on the conclusion of the Protocol defining, for the period 3 December 2003 to 2 December 2007, the fishing opportunities and the financial compensation provided for by the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of Mauritius on fishing in the waters of Mauritius (COM(2004) 0197 — C5-0179/2004 — 2004/0071(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the proposal for a Council regulation (COM(2004) 0197) [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 (C5-0179/2004),

- 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 (A6-0001/2004),

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 Mauritius.

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 Mauritius. |

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 forward to the European Parliament and to the Council a copy of the annual report referred to in Article 3(5) of the Protocol. |

Amendments 5 and 6

Article 3b (new)

| Article 3b 1. During the final year of the Protocol's validity and before negotiations are opened on its possible renewal, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and to the Council a general report on its application and the conditions under which it was implemented, with particular regard to the specific actions, together with a cost-benefit analysis, so that an assessment can be made of its economic, social and environmental impact. 2. On the basis of this report, and taking account of the European Parliament's opinion thereon, the Council shall, where appropriate, authorise the Commission to open negotiations with a view to the adoption of a new protocol. |

[1] Not yet published in OJ.

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