EU/Madagascar Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement and Implementing Protocol (2023-2027)

PURPOSE: to conclude the sustainable fisheries partnership agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Madagascar and its Implementing Protocol (2023-2027).

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

BACKGROUND: the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Madagascar and its implementation protocol (2023-2027) have been signed. The Agreement replaces the previous Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Madagascar, which has been provisionally applied since 1 January 2007.

The agreement and the protocol should be approved.

CONTENT: the purpose of the draft Council Decision is to approve, on behalf of the Union, the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Madagascar and its implementing Protocol (2023-2027).

The objectives of the Agreement and the Protocol are to enable Union vessels to fish in Madagascar’s fishing zone and to enable the Union and Madagascar to work closely together to further promote the development of a sustainable fisheries policy and the responsible exploitation of fishery resources in Madagascar’s fishing zone and in the Indian Ocean. That cooperation will also contribute to decent working conditions in the fisheries sector.

The Agreement establishes a Joint Committee responsible for monitoring the application of the Agreement and the Protocol. The Joint Committee is authorised to adopt certain amendments to the Protocol. To facilitate the approval of such amendments, the Commission should be authorised, subject to substantive and procedural conditions, to approve them on behalf of the Union under a simplified procedure.

The Union’s position on proposed amendments to the Protocol should be established by the Council. The proposed amendments should be approved unless a blocking minority of Member States objects to them.