(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the proposal for a Council regulation (COM(2005)0502)(1),

–   having regard to Articles 37 and 300(2) of the EC Treaty,

–   having regard to Article 300(3), first subparagraph, of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C6-0353/2005),

–   having regard to Rules 51 and 83(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 (A6-0035/2006),

1.  Approves the proposal for a Council regulation as amended and approves conclusion of the agreement;

2.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and Commission, and the governments and parliaments of the Member States and the Federated States of Micronesia.

Text proposed by the Commission   Amendments by Parliament Amendment 1 Recital 2 a (new) (2a) It is important to improve the information provided to the European Parliament; to that end, the Commission should draw up an annual report on the implementation of the Agreement. Amendment 2 Article 2 a (new) Article 2a 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 implementation of the Agreement. Amendment 3 Article 2 b (new) Article 2b On the basis of the report referred to in Article 2a and after consulting the European Parliament, the Council shall, where appropriate, give the Commission a negotiating mandate with a view to the adoption of a new protocol. Amendment 4 Article 2 c (new) Article 2c The Commission shall report to the European Parliament and the Council on the carrying-out of the multiannual sectoral programme and the application of its implementing rules referred to in Article 5(2) of the Protocol.

(1) Not yet published in OJ.