REPORT on the proposal for a Council regulation on the conclusion of the Protocol setting out, for the period from 3 August 2002 to 2 August 2004, the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of the Republic of Angola on fishing off Angola
(COM(2002) 495 – C5‑0492/2002 – 2002/0237(CNS))

12 November 2002 - *

Committee on Fisheries
Rapporteur: Carlos Lage

Procedure : 2002/0237(CNS)

Document stages in plenary

Document selected :

A5-0390/2002

Texts tabled :

A5-0390/2002

Debates :

Votes :

Texts adopted :

P5_TA(2002)0582

PROCEDURAL PAGE
DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON BUDGETS
OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON DEVELOPMENT AND COOPERATION

PROCEDURAL PAGE

By letter of 16 October 2002 the Council consulted Parliament, pursuant to Article 37 in conjunction with Article 300(2) and 300(3), first subparagraph, of the EC Treaty, on the proposal for a Council regulation on the conclusion of the Protocol setting out, for the period from 3 August 2002 to 2 August 2004, the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of the Republic of Angola on fishing off Angola (COM(2002) 495 – 2002/0237(CNS)).

At the sitting of 21 October 2002 the President of Parliament announced that he had referred this proposal to the Committee on Fisheries as the committee responsible and the Committee on Budgets and the Committee on Development and Cooperation for their opinions (C5‑0492/2002).

The Committee on Fisheries had appointed Carlos Lage rapporteur at its meeting of 12September 2002.

It considered the Commission proposal and the draft report at its meetings of 12September, 21 October and 12 November 2002.

At the latter meeting it adopted the draft legislative resolution by 17 votes to 1.

The following were present for the vote: Struan Stevenson..., chairman; Rosa Miguélez Ramos, Brigitte Langenhagen and Hugues Martin, vice-chairmen; Carlos Bautista Ojeda, Niels Busk, Arlindo Cunha, Ian Stewart Hudghton, Salvador Jové Peres, Heinz Kindermann, Paul A.A.J.G. Lannoye, Giorgio Lisi, Albert Jan Maat, Ioannis Marinos, Seán Ó Neachtain, Manuel Pérez Álvarez, Fernando Pérez Royo (for Carlos Lage), Yves Piétrasanta (for Patricia McKenna), Dominique F.C. Souchet (for Michael John Holmes), Catherine Stihler, Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna and Herman Vermeer (for Elspeth Attwooll).

The opinions of the Committee on Budgets and the Committee on Development and Cooperation are attached.

The report was tabled on 12 November 2002.

DRAFT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council regulation on the conclusion of the Protocol setting out, for the period from 3 August 2002 to 2 August 2004, the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of the Republic of Angola on fishing off Angola (COM(2002) 495 – C5‑0492/2002 – 2002/0237(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2002) 495[1]),

– having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 37 in conjunction with Articles 300(2) and 300(3), first subparagraph, of the EC Treaty (C5‑0492/2002),

– having regard to Rules 67 and 97(7) of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Fisheries and the opinions of the Committee on Budgets and the Committee on Development and Cooperation (A5‑0390/2002),

1. Approves the Commission proposal as amended;

2. Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 250(2) of the EC Treaty;

3. Calls on the Council to notify Parliament should it intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

4. Asks to be consulted again if the Council intends to amend the Commission proposal substantially;

5. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and Commission.

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendments by Parliament
Amendment 1 Recital 2 a (new)
	*It is important to improve the information supplied to the European Parliament and the Commission should draw up a yearly report on the state of implementation of the Agreement.*
Justification To underline the importance of providing adequate information to the European Parliament to enable it to carry out its duties in conformity with the consultation procedure.
Amendment 2 Recital 2 b (new)
	The Protocol to the Agreement should incorporate the social clause adopted by the sea fishing industry Social Dialogue Committee meeting in plenary session on 19 December 2001, in order to ensure that all seamen sailing on EU vessels may enjoy freedom of association and the right of collective bargaining, suffer no discrimination, earn a decent wage, and benefit from living and working conditions similar to those of EU seamen.
Justification Social conditions should be taken into consideration within the framework of international fisheries agreements.
Amendment 3 Article 2 a (new)
	During the final year of the Protocol’s validity and before any agreement on the renewal thereof is concluded, the Commission shall submit to Parliament and the Council a report on the application of the Agreement and the conditions under which it has been implemented.
Justification Before the conclusion of any new agreement the Commission should require the authorities of the State with which it is entering into negotiations to supply information, on the basis of which the Commission will submit a general assessment report to Parliament and the Council.
Amendment 4 Article 2 b (new)
	*The Commission shall forward to the Council and Parliament a copy of the report on the targeted measures which the authorities of Angola will provide on the basis of Article 3 of the Protocol.*
Justification Targeted measures are becoming increasingly important from both the financial and social point of view. Therefore the report as laid down in the Protocol and supplied to the Commission should be forwarded to Parliament and the Council.
Amendment 5 Article 2 c (new)
	On the basis of these reports and following consultation of the European Parliament the Council shall grant the Commission a negotiating mandate in respect of the protocols for implementing the Agreement.
Justification Only on the basis of both the report concerning the implementation of the targeted measures and the evaluation report on the implementation of the fisheries agreement will the European Parliament and the Council be able to carry out their respective duties.
Amendment 6 Article 2d (new)
	The Member States whose vessels are fishing under this Protocol are obliged to notify the Commission of the quantities of each stock taken in the Angolan fishing zone in accordance with the arrangements laid down in Commission Regulation (EC) No 500/2001 of 14 March 2001[2].
Justification The Commission Regulation (EC) No 500/2001 states that the Member States are obliged to notify the Commission of the quantities of the catches taken in the fishing zone of third countries in the framework of EU fisheries agreements. The introduction of a new article - as the Commission included already in other proposals for fisheries protocols (recently in the protocol with Sao Tome e Principe) - can help to achieve a more realistic picture of the actual catches of the EU shipping fleet. It could be useful in both directions, to identify more exactly the under-utilisation of fishing opportunities, and to discover if catches are not declared properly. It is not understandable why the Commission does not include this provision in this important agreement.

[1] Not yet published in OJ.
[2] OJ L 73, 15.3.2001, p. 8.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Introduction

The fisheries agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Angola was concluded in 1987. Since then the protocols to the agreement have been renewed on a regular basis every two or three years, except for the current renewal, which was delayed as a result of a stagnation of negotiations. A three-month extension of the previous Protocol prevented fisheries action from coming to a halt. The new Protocol, which was initialled on 30 June 2002, lays down the fishing opportunities and the financial compensation payable for a two-year period running from 3 August 2002 to 2 August 2004. Pending its official entry into force during the course of the year, the Protocol will be implemented on a provisional basis so as to enable fishing to continue as normal. The Protocol is commercial in character, providing access to fishery resources in return for financial compensation. The first payment to the Angolan Government should be made no later than 30 November 2002.

The Protocol essentially concerns tuna, shrimp and demersal fisheries, but also – to a smaller extent – pelagic fishing possibilities are included in the agreement. Effectively, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, Greek and Irish shipowners are the interested parties in the relevant fisheries.

Background on fisheries in Angola

According to FAO figures (1996) about 85 000 people are employed in the fisheries sector and another 8 000 are indirectly dependent. The value of production amounted to USD 83.5 m in 1996. The fleet numbered 4 677 vessels, of which only 17% were motorised. About 200 vessels could be considered to be of industrial or semi-industrial character. In the preceding years the sector increased its annual production to a level of 132 000 tonnes in the year 1996. Total production (including foreign vessels) reached almost 200 000 tonnes. The potential of the fishing industry is enormous. FAO figures indicate that there is an exploitable potential of 360 000 tonnes of fish in the waters of Angola.

Main contents of the new Protocol

The fishing possibilities provided in the new Protocol differ significantly from the ones in the last protocols (3 May 1999 to 2 May 2000 and 3 May 2000 to 2 May 2002). The number of tuna vessels has been reduced from 43 to 33 while the opportunities for fishing demersal species have been widened from 3 750 to 4 200 GRT on average per month. As was the case in the previous Protocol pelagic fisheries remain ‘experimental’ because the available licences have not been used. Afterwards, a joint committee will decide whether to proceed with pelagic fisheries under the Protocol. The number of pelagic vessels has not changed.

The annual cost of the agreement to be borne by the Community goes up considerably from €13 975 000 to €15 500 000, mainly due to the increase of the amount for targeted measures from €4 025 000 to €5 525 000, which is equal to 35% of the total financial contribution.

Provisions which were newly introduced in the former Protocol are kept in place, such as the obligation for the Ministry of Fisheries and the Environment to provide the Commission with detailed information in writing on the implementation of the action related to targeted measures. Two new types of targeted measures have been introduced, aiming at the improvement of local aquaculture and for product commercialisation.

The table given below shows the differences between the latest Protocol and its three predecessors.

Comparative Table
	3.5. 96-2.5.99	3.5. 99-2.5.2000	3.5. 2000-2.5.2002	3.8. 2002- 2.8.2004
Vessels
Shrimp vessels	6 550 GRT/month, 22 vessels max.(1);	6 550 GRT/month, 22 vessels max.(1);	6 750 GRT/month 22 vessels	6 550 GRT/month 22 vessels
Demersal vessels	3 750 GRT/month	3 750 GRT/month	3 750 GRT/month	4 200 GRT/month
Freezer tuna seiners	9	18	18	15
Surface longliners	12	25	25	18
Pelagic vessels (2)	2	2	2	2
Authorised catches	5 000 tonnes of shrimps max.	5 000 tonnes of shrimps max.	5 000 tonnes of shrimps max.	5 000 tonnes of shrimps max.
Financial envelope
Financial compensation	€31 000 000	€10 300 000	€19 900 000	19 950 000
Scientific and technical programme	€5 000 000	€1 700 000	€1 500 000	1 500 000
Studies	€1 050 000	€350 000
Quality control programme			€700 000	700 000
Fisheries surveillance programme			€1 550 000	1 550 000
Programme non-industrial fishing			€300 000	2 300 000
Support ministry			€1 000 000	1 000 000
Development aquaculture				500 000
Product commercialisation				500 000
Training and grants	€3 000 000 max.	€1 000 000 max.	€3 000 000 max.	3 000 000
Total	€40 050 000	€13 350 000	€27 950 000	€31 000 000
Total per year	€13 500 000	€13 350 000	€13 975 000	15 500 000
Licences
Shipowners’ licence fees (3) Shrimp vessels	€ 56/GRT/month	€ 56/GRT/month	€ 58/GRT/month	52/GRT/month
Trawlers	€195/GRT/month	€195/GRT/month	€ 205/GRT/month	220/GRT/month
Tuna vessels and surf. longliners	€20/T of catch	€20/T of catch	€25/T of catch	€25/T of catch
Tuna freezer vessels	€4 000/year = 200 T of catch	€4 000/year = 200 T of catch	€4 200/year = 168 T of catch	4 500/ year = 180 T of catch
Surface longliners	€2 000/year = 100 T of catch	€2 000/year = 100 T of catch	€2 100/year = 84 T of catch	2 500/year = 100 T of catch
Other conditions
Observers	Yes	Yes	Yes
Local seamen	At least 5 per shrimp vessel or trawler	At least 5 per shrimp vessel or trawler	At least 5 per shrimp vessel or trawler
Fishing zones	Beyond first 12 miles	Beyond first 12 miles	Beyond first 12 miles

*Gross registered tonnage

(1) As an annual average

(2) On an trial basis, for a six-month period running from the date of entry into force

(3) If the fees are paid quarterly, the amount is increased by 5%, and if half-yearly, by 3%.

The conditions governing experimental fishing of pelagic species are almost identical to those set out above, with the exception of those governing licence fees and the duration of licences.

Evaluation of previous Protocol

The Commission’s evaluation of the utilisation of the fishing opportunities gives a mixed picture.

From May 2000 to May 2002 – in terms of licences issued – the utilisation rates were satisfactory for shrimp and tuna fishing, average for demersal fisheries and nihil for pelagic fisheries. Concerning the catches, the evaluation report only provides figures up to the year 1999. Furthermore, the protocols with Angola – with the exception of shrimp fisheries – only lay down the fishing possibilities in terms of licences, not in terms of allowed catches.

Therefore it is difficult to assess the successfulness of the Protocol’s implementation. As for shrimp catches, these reached a level of 1 800 tonnes in 1999 (the latest year on which figures are available) while a maximum of 5 000 tonnes was allowed.

The Commission’s evaluation report indicates that the Joint Committee has met several times to settle problems that occurred during the implementation of the Protocol, e.g. concerning allegations of wrong declarations of catches and taking in fuel by vessels at sea instead of in the harbour.

In the first year of application of the Protocol, the Community failed to make the first payment on time. Furthermore, problems have arisen with regard to the functioning of the Vessel Monitoring System, which forwards data both to the Angolan authorities and the Member States.

Comments

After 27 years of civil war, the economic situation in Angola is disastrous. However, after the signing of the latest stage of the peace process on 26 August, hope is shimmering for the 10 million Angolan citizens. The main money-generating industry in Angola is the production of oil. But the fisheries industry should not be ignored. According to FAO reports, Angola has huge resources which are still unexploited. According to your rapporteur, the new Protocol provides room for the local industry to expand and includes arrangements for the transshipment of fish in Angolan ports, provisioning of EU vessels and contracting local fishermen aboard EU vessels.

In budgetary terms, the Protocol with Angola is – with a financial envelope of €31 m over two years (almost 11% more expensive than the previous Protocol) – a major one. Your rapporteur welcomes the increase in funds for targeted measures, which go up to €11 050 000 over the two-year period. The availability of more funds for targeted measures ensures that more attention can be given to the conservation of resources, the development of the regional fishing sector, surveillance measures and participation in international organisations by the Angolan Government.

According to the evaluation paper, it was agreed that Angola would provide information on the use of the funds for targeted measures at the beginning of 2002. Parliament urges the Commission to forward a copy of this report.

As shown in the table, fishing possibilities have changed substantially. In spite of the very satisfactory utilisation rate, tuna catching opportunities decline from 43 vessels to 33 while demersal fishing possibilities go up, although the utilisation rate was poor with 27% in the 2000/2001 and 42% in the 2001/2002 period. The number of two pelagic vessels is maintained in the renewed Protocol.

With regard to the conservation of resources, the Commission has built into the Protocol a number of measures that are welcomed by the rapporteur. In the first place, annually a joint committee will discuss the state of the fish resources. Secondly, the possibility exists to introduce a biological rest period.

Conclusion

The rapporteur proposes that Parliament endorse the outcome of negotiations between the Community and the Government of Angola. In the first place, the new Protocol offers fishing opportunities for the fleets of several Member States. Secondly, the Protocol acknowledges the need to support the local fishing industry and increases its funding for the development of sustainable fisheries in the Angolan EEZ. As was emphasised before in the report on the 2000-2002 fisheries Protocol, your rapporteur urges the Commission to make available to Parliament the report on the implementation of the targeted measures.

Furthermore, your rapporteur hopes that now a peace agreement has been signed, the fisheries industry in Angola will be able to further contribute to the development of the country’s economy, which has suffered so much because of the civil war that hit the country since its independence in the 1970s.

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON BUDGETS

11 November 2002

for the Committee on Fisheries

on the proposal for a Council regulation on the conclusion of the Protocol setting out, for the period from 3 August 2002 to 2 August 2004, the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of the Republic of Angola on fishing off Angola

(COM(2002) 495 – C5‑0492/2002 – 2002/0237 (CNS))

Draftsman: Bárbara Dührkop Dührkop

PROCEDURE

The Committee on Budgets appointed Bárbara Dührkop Dührkop draftsman at its meeting of 21 October 2002.

The committee considered the draft opinion at its meeting of 11 November 2002.

At the meeting it adopted the following amendments unanimously.

The following were present for the vote: Terence Wynn, chairman; Reimer Böge, Anne Elisabet Jensen and Franz Turchi, vice-chairmen; Bárbara Dührkop Dührkop, draftsman; Ioannis Averoff, Joan Colom i Naval, Manuel António dos Santos, Den Dover, James E.M. Elles, Göran Färm, Markus Ferber, Salvador Garriga Polledo, Neena Gill, Catherine Guy-Quint, Jutta D. Haug, María Esther Herranz García, John Joseph McCartin, Jan Mulder, Juan Andrés Naranjo Escobar, Jean-Thomas Nordmann, Joaquim Piscarreta, Guido Podestà, Esko Olavi Seppänen (for Chantal Cauquil), Ioannis Souladakis (for Constanze Angela Krehl), Per Stenmarck, Rijk van Dam (for Michel Raymond), Kyösti Tapio Virrankoski and Ralf Walter.

SHORT JUSTIFICATION

1. The previous Protocol to the Fisheries Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Angola expired on 2 May 2002, but was prolonged until 2.8.2002. The new protocol - the ninth since the entry into force of the fisheries agreement between the EC and Angola in 1987 - was initialled on 30 June 2002. It covers a period of 2 years (3 August 2002 to 2 August 2004). A draft Council Decision concerning the provisional application of the new Protocol pending its final entry into force is subject to a separate procedure (without consultation of the Parliament).

2. On 5 July 2002, the Commission informed the Parliament's Committee on Fisheries about the new Protocol as initialled and transmitted the text of the Protocol, but no draft financial statement. On 2 October 2002, the Commission adopted the Proposal for a Council Regulation on the Conclusion of the Protocol.

3. The new Protocol grants fishing opportunities for 33 tuna vessels, 22 shrimp vessels and 4200 GRT per month of demersal trawlers, compared with opportunities for 43 tuna vessels, 22 shrimp vessels and 3750 GRT per month of demersal trawlers under the previous protocol. It foresees the following financial contributions through the EU budget:

			in €
	2002	2003	Total
Commitment appropriations
Financial compensation	9 975 000	9 975 000	19 950 000
scientific and technical programmes quality control programme support programme for marketing support programme for fisheries surveillance programme for the development of non-industrial fishing institutional support study grants, training, participation in international organisations programme to encourage the development of aquaculture	750 000 350 000 250 000 775 000 1 150 000 500 000 1 500 000 250 000	750 000 350 000 250 000 770 000 1 150 000 500 000 1 500 000 250 000	1 500 000 700 000 500 000 1 550 000 2 300 000 1 000 000 3 000 000 500 000
Total Commitments	15 500 000	15 500 000	31 000 000
Payment appropriations	15 500 000	15 500 000	31 000 000

4. The financial contribution has been increased to EUR 15.500.000 per year compared with EUR 13.975.000 per year in the previous protocol. Out of this amount, EUR 5.525.000 /year is earmarked to finance the development of scientific research, surveillance, artisanal fisheries and local fishing communities, training and aquaculture, and will ensure greater coherence between the fisheries and development policies at Community level.

5. The increase of the financial contribution is justified with the increase in fishing opportunities in one of the sectors of the agreement (demersal fishing). Also the increase of the share of targeted measures from 28% to 35% of the total costs of the protocol can be seen as positive element. On the other hand, the highly satisfactory untilisation of tuna licences could not lead to an increase in this sector of the agreement, but was decreased due to the efforts of the Angolan government to develop its own onshore tuna processing industry. However, the present protocol is - in terms of fishing opportunities - the second most important agreement after Mauritania.

CONCLUSIONS

1. The Committee on Budgets states that the Protocol provides for the financial compensation for the first year to be paid not later than 30 November 2002. This leaves only very limited time for the consultation of Parliament before the first payment to Angola has to be effected.

2. The Committee on Budgets welcomes the inclusion of a suspension clause in the Protocol, which gives the possibility to suspend the fishing agreement either in the case that the Community fails to make the payments provide for in the Protocol (Article 7) or in the case that the circumstances prevent fishing activities in the Angolan fishing zone (Article 5). It is a positive development that the Commission has undertaken to include such clauses in more and more fisheries protocols with third countries to avoid the difficulties which occurred in the context of other fisheries agreements when the fishing could not be carried through as provided for in the respective protocols and agreements.

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Budgets calls on the Committee on Fisheries, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following amendments in its report:

Text proposed by the Commission[1]	Amendments by Parliament
Amendment 1 Article 2a (new)
	The Member States whose vessels are fishing under this Protocol are obliged to notify the Commission of the quantities of each stock taken in the Angolan fishing zone in accordance with the arrangements laid down in Commission Regulation (EC) No 500/2001 of 14 March 2001[2].
Justification The Commission Regulation (EC) No 500/2001 states that the Member States are obliged to notify the Commission of the quantities of the catches taken in the fishing zone of third countries in the framework of EU fisheries agreements. The introduction of a new article - as the Commission included already in other proposals for fisheries protocols (recently in the protocol with Sao Tome e Principe) - can help to achieve a more realistic picture of the actual catches of the EU shipping fleet. It could be useful in both directions, to identify more exactly the under-utilisation of fishing opportunities, and to discover if catches are not declared properly. It is not understandable why the Commission does not include this provision in this important agreement.
Amendment 2 Article 2b (1) (new)
	1. In the course of the Protocol's application, and before the start of negotiations on its possible renewal, the Commission shall submit to the Council and European Parliament a new general assessment report including a cost benefit analysis.
Justification Before the expiry of the previous protocol, the European Commission presented to Parliament an evaluation report on the previous protocol after initialling the new protocol. The Commission did not provide the European Parliament with information allowing a serious assessment and the presentation of an opinion by the Parliament before the start of negotiations.
Amendment 3 Article 2b (2) (new)
	2. The Council shall, on the basis of this report and taking account of the European Parliament's opinion thereon, authorise the Commission, where appropriate, to start negotiations with a view to the adoption of a new Protocol.
Justification The Committee on Budgets reiterates the demand for the general assessment report to be presented by the Commission before the beginning of negotiations on the renewed Protocol. The Council shall only give the authorisation to the Commission to start negotiations on the basis of the assessment report and the opinion of the European Parliament. This position is in line with the conclusion N^o D of the Working Document on European Community Fisheries Agreements (PE 289.538) approved by the Committee on Budgets on 23 May 2000. It is also in line with the position taken by the Parliament on other fisheries agreements.

[1] OJ C ...
[2] OJ L 73, 15.3.2001, p. 8.

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON DEVELOPMENT AND COOPERATION

11 November 2002

for the Committee on Fisheries

(COM(2002) 495 – C5‑0492/2002 – 2002/0237(CNS))

Draftsman: Joaquim Miranda

PROCEDURE

The Committee on Development and Cooperation appointed Joaquim Miranda draftsman at its meeting of 30 September 2002.

It considered the draft opinion at its meeting of 2 October 2002.

At its meeting of 11 November 2002 it adopted the following conclusions unanimously.

The following were present for the vote:Joaquim Miranda, chairman and draftsman; Margrietus J. van den Berg, vice-chairman, Marieke Sanders-ten Holte, vice-person and Anders Wijkman, vice-chairman, Niall Andrews (for Isabelle Caullery), Richard A. Balfe (for Nirj Deva), Jean-Pierre Bebear, Yasmine Boudjenah, John Bowis, Marie-Arlette Carlotti, Maria Carrilho, Vitaliano Gemelli, Richard Howitt, Glenys Kinnock, Karsten Knolle, Paul A.A.J.G. Lannoye, Nelly Maes (for Didier Rod), Miguel Angel Martínez Martínez, Hans Modrow, Luisa Morgantini, Ulla Margrethe Sandbæk, Francisca Sauquillo Pérez del Arco, Maj Britt Theorin and Elena Valenciano Martínez-Orozco (for Karin Junker).

SHORT JUSTIFICATION

The new fisheries protocol with the Republic of Angola

The European Commission and Angola have initialled a protocol to renew the fisheries agreement between the European Union and Angola for a period of 2 years from 3 August 2002. This protocol will provide fishing possibilities for shrimps, demersal species, tuna and tuna-like species and pelagic fisheries. Vessels operating under this protocol come from Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, Greece and the Netherlands.

The EU financial contribution will be increased from €13,975,000 per year to €15,500,000. The share allocated to specific measures in favour of Angola's fishing sector will go up from 29% to 35% of this contribution (€5,525,000) within the framework of the development partnership between the two parties which aims to achieve sustainable development in fisheries. €1,150,000/ year (€150,000 in previous protocol) have been earmarked for the development of small-scale fisheries and support for fishing communities as Angola seeks to help people resettle in the aftermath of the war.

Other measures that will receive financial support from this allocation include scientific research, training, institutional support for Angola's participation in regional fisheries organisations, monitoring and control of fisheries activities and aquaculture.

The financial contribution by shipowners has been increased for tuna seiners and longliners. It remains the same for pelagic vessels and is slightly decreased for shrimp vessels.

Fishing possibilities in shrimp fisheries remain the same with 22 vessels allowed to operate. The tonnage of the vessels able to target demersal fisheries (species living close to the seabed) has been increased from 3,750 GT (Gross tonnes) to 4,200 GT. There has been a slight decrease in the number of tuna seiners from 18 to 15 and in the number of surface long-liners from 25 to 18. In the case of pelagic fisheries (species living in mid-water) 2 vessels will undertake experimental fisheries for a period of 6 months. The results from these fisheries will be examined by the EU/Angola scientific committee, which will report to the joint committee. On the basis of this advice, the joint committee will decide on whether there is scope for a continuation of pelagic fisheries under the protocol. If this were the case, the financial compensation would be adjusted accordingly. This decision was taken in application of the precautionary approach.

All EU vessels operating under this protocol will fish beyond the 12-mile coastal band, to avoid competition with the artisanal vessels. The two parties have agreed on a period of biological rest. They also agreed on a programme of satellite monitoring for EU vessels.

Angolan fisheries

Angolan maritime fisheries are managed mainly (since 92) by the private sector. There is a sharp decline of the foreign activity that was over 100 000t in 97. In parallel, the catch from the Angolan private sector doubled in the last 5 years. A significant number of foreign boats are now working under joint ventures with Angolan partners (EU/Spanish boats are involved in shrimp fisheries: production (trawlers) and export).

In the national fleet, trawlers showed recently a steady growth, catching up to 43 000 tons in 99. In total 171 000 tons are due to industrial, or semi-industrial vessels activities (industrial registered fleet is about 200 vessels) and 31 000 tons are from the artisanal sector.

Most of the fishers are involved in the artisanal sector. There is a real potential for artisanal fisheries and efforts are developed by IPA (Institute for the development of Artisanal Fisheries) in order to improve quality and tonnage of landings, as well as the standard of living of the artisanal communities.

The contribution of the fisheries sector to the GNP is 3%. Total export value reached 24 million USD in 99, following the setting up of joint ventures to export shrimps. Export of fish is only 5% of total landings and the main item is deep-water shrimps sent to Spain.

Some high quality frozen fish and lobsters from the artisanal fishery are processed and exported. For these products marketing and trade are hampered by both war and lack of consistent quality control.

This didn’t affect the shrimp exports as the Spanish vessels export their products processed on board and are directly agreed by the UE authorities. But this considerably hampers any development of export activities by national and small scale operators.

Available data show that there are indications of overfishing of deep-water shrimp. On the other hand it appears that the small pelagic species are under exploited.

CONCLUSIONS

The Committee on Development and Cooperation calls on the Committee on Fisheries, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following points in its motion for a resolution:

1. Recalls the EP resolution on "Fisheries and Poverty Reduction" (A5-0334/2001) as well as the Council Resolution of 8 November 2001 on the same subject;

2. Recalls the agreement reached at the WSSD in Johannesburg which commits countries to limiting fishing to sustainable levels and take steps to restore stocks bt 2015; also the request to regional fisheries management organisations to consider the needs of developing countries when allocating fish quotas;

3. Welcomes the substantial increase of the share of the financial contribution earmarked for the development of small-scale fisheries, as many fishing communities have been destroyed by the war;

4. Considers it important that arrangements and budgetary provisions in respect of EU development cooperation be made consistent with the provisions of the Fisheries protocol;

5. Draws the attention to the fact that there are indications of overfishing of deep-water shrimp and recommends therefore a reduction of the number of vessels involved in the shrimp fishery;

6. Considers that the Protocol to the Agreement must include the social clause adopted at the plenary meeting of the Committee on social sectoral dialogue 'sea-fishing' on 19 December 2001, so that all fishermen on board EU vessels are guaranteed freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining, the elimination of discrimination, fair remuneration, and living and working conditions for local fishermen which are similar to those for EU fishermen;

7. Regrets that the Protocol does not contain any more far-reaching provisions concerning the landing of fish catches by EU vessels for further development of the fish-processing industry in Angola;

8. Calls on the Commission to devote special attention to transfer of know-how and technology regarding the application of EU health standards for fishery production so that exports of fisheries products from Angola to the EU can be further developed;

9. Calls on the Commission to ensure that each contractual clause of the agreement is observed by vessels flying a Community flag;

10. Recognises the damage done to dolphins by seine nets, and to seabirds, in particular albatrosses, by long-line; calls consequently, on the Commission and national and international fishing organisations to undertake research and apply already existing technology whereby marine mammals and birds can be protected from such fishing practices;

11. Recommends that the Committee on Fisheries approve the proposal, under the condition that guaranties are given that the EU vessels don't get access to overexploited stocks.

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