Fisheries partnership agreement with the Republic of Cape Verde
26.11.2014
Question for written answer P-009685-14
to the Commission
Rule 130
Raymond Finch (EFDD)
According to the new Protocol to the 2006 Fisheries Partnership Agreement with Cape Verde, the EU will pay Cape Verde a financial contribution of EUR 550 000 per year in the first two years and EUR 500 000 in the last two years. Half of this contribution should be used to promote sustainable management of fisheries in Cape Verde, including reinforcement of control and surveillance capacities, and to support local fishing communities.
According to a series of interviews conducted by Matthias Mundt[1], no-one knows where the money goes. It seems that no money at all is given to the INDP (Instituto Nacional de Desenvolvimento das Pescas — National Fisheries Development Institute), the only fisheries research institution of Cape Verde.
There is practically no surveillance of vessels: a couple of boats have to cover an area of 734 265 square kilometres.
1. Will the Commission investigate how the money is spent, to whom it goes and for what purposes?
2. How will the Commission ensure that funds for the support of local fishing communities are used for this purpose?
3. Is the Commission satisfied that the surveillance is fit for purpose?
- [1] ‘The effects of EU fisheries partnership agreements on fish stocks and fishermen: the case of Cape Verde’, Institute for International Political Economy Berlin, Working Paper No 12/2012, pp. 1‐32.