The committee adopted the report by Carmen FRAGA ESTÉVEZ (EPP-ED, ES) approving the proposal under the consultation procedure, subject to a few amendments. These reflected Parliament's traditional position on renewing fishing agreements, namely, that a general assessment report on the application of the agreement should be presented by the Commission before the beginning of negotiations. Only after the report had been received and Parliament had given its opinion thereon should the Council authorise the Commission to enter into negotiations for a possible new Protocol.
In view of the financial and social importance of targeted measures, the multiannual sectoral programme which the Comorian authorities are to draw up as a framework for those measures should be forwarded to Parliament and Council as well as being sent to the Commission. Lastly, the committee wanted provision to be made for shipowners to send representatives to attend meetings of the Joint Committee set up under the Agreement. MEPs argued that shipowners were meeting a significant part of the costs of the agreement and should be given a say and a minimum degree of legal certainty enabling them to continue to protect the interests of their businesses.