EC/Madagascar Fisheries Partnership Agreement

The Committee on Fisheries adopted the report by Margie SUDRE (EPP-ED, FR) - under the consultation procedure - on the amended proposal for a Council regulation on the conclusion of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Madagascar.

The committee tabled several amendments aimed at improving the information forwarded to Parliament. In particular, the report states that the Commission should forward the conclusions of the meetings of the joint committee.

In order to evaluate whether the compensation paid by the EU is properly accounted for and does in fact promote the sustainable use of fishery resources in Madagascar, the Commission should report annually to Parliament.

During the final year of the protocol's validity and before another agreement is concluded on its renewal, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and the Council a report on the application of the agreement and the conditions under which it was implemented.

Before any new agreement is concluded, the Commission should ask the authorities of the country with which it is opening negotiations to provide it with information on the basis of which it will submit a general assessment report to Parliament and the Council.

Parliament and the Council will be able to discharge their respective duties only on the basis of the evaluation report on the application of the fisheries agreement.

Lastly, the Commission is requested to evaluate each year whether Member States whose vessels operate under the Protocol have complied with reporting requirements. Where this is not the case, the Commission shall withhold their requests for fishing licences for the following year.