(Consent)

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the draft Council decision (16651/2013),

–  having regard to the draft Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Seychelles (16648/2013),

–  having regard to the request for consent submitted by the Council in accordance with Article 43 and Article 218(6), second subparagraph, point (a), and (7), of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (C7-0020/2014),

–  having regard to the proposal for a Council regulation concerning the allocation of fishing opportunities under the Protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Seychelles (COM(2013)0765),

–  having regard to the proposal for a Council decision on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and on the provisional application of the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Seychelles ((COM(2013)0766),

–  having regard to Rule 81(1), first and third subparagraphs, Rule 81(2), and Rule 90(7) of its Rules of Procedure,

–  having regard to the recommendation of the Committee on Fisheries and the opinion of the Committee on Budgets (A7-0201/2014),

1.  Gives its consent to conclusion of the Protocol;

2.  Calls on the Commission to provide Parliament with relevant information on the joint scientific meetings provided for in Article 4 of the Partnership Agreement and on meetings of the joint committee provided for in Article 9 of the Partnership Agreement, in particular the corresponding minutes and conclusions, together with an annual report on the practical implementation of the multiannual sectoral support programme referred to in Article 3 of the Protocol;

3.  Calls for representatives of its Committee on Fisheries, acting as observers, to be able to attend the above meetings of the joint committee provided for in Article 9 of the Partnership Agreement;

4.  Calls on the Commission to submit to Parliament and the Council, during the final year of the Protocol’s validity and before the opening of negotiations on its renewal, an ex-post assessment report on its implementation, containing an analysis of the uptake of fishing opportunities and a cost-benefit analysis of the Protocol, along with a report on possible constraints on fishing operations and damage caused to the Union fleet operating in the Seychelles’ Exclusive Economic Zone as a result of piracy in this part of the Indian Ocean;

5.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States and of the Republic of Seychelles.