On the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Implementing Protocol (2024-2029) to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau

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BUDGETARY ASSESSMENT

for the Committee on Fisheries on the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Implementing Protocol (2024-2029) to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau

(COM(2024)0285 – C10-0108/2024 – 2024/0159(NLE))

The Committee on Budgets has carried out a budgetary assessment of the proposal under Rule 58 of the Rules of Procedure and has reached the following conclusions:

– having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 September 2024 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union,

– having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement (IIA) of 16 December 2020 between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management, as well as on new own resources, including a roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources, and in particular point 20 thereof,

A. whereas the financial contribution for the entire duration of the Protocol is EUR 85 000 000 (i.e. EUR 17 000 000 per year), based on:

(a) an annual amount of EUR 12 500 000 for access to fishery resources in the fishing zone of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau; and

(b) a specific amount of EUR 4 500 000 per year in support of the sectoral policy of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau;

B. whereas the implementation of the Protocol requires the use of operational appropriations, as explained below:

EUR million (to three decimal places)

DG MARE

Year N

Year N+1

Year N+3

Year N+4

TOTAL

□ Operational appropriations

Budget line 08.05.01

Commitments

(1a)

17.000

17.000

17.000

17.000

85.000

Payments

(2 a)

17.000

17.000

17.000

17.000

85.000

1. Notes that the support allocated to the Protocol should meet the objectives of cooperation in the fields of sustainable exploitation of fishery resources, aquaculture, sustainable development of the oceans, protection of the marine environment, and the blue economy; considers that this should be thoroughly scrutinised to ensure that this is done effectively during the implementation of the Protocol; notes that the support has a direct link to the principles of the Samoa Agreement, reinforcing the Union’s external action towards African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and particularly taking into account the Union’s objectives with regard to democratic principles and human rights, strengthening the Union presence in the region and the cooperation with an important strategic partner;

2. Recommends that, for future agreements, an impact assessment of the added value and socio-economic benefits derived from the previous agreement be taken into account; considers that this assessment should guide the negotiation and renewal of subsequent agreements to ensure that they align with the objectives of sustainable development and efficient use of the Union’s financial resources;

3. Notes that the Protocol with Guinea-Bissau was signed on 18 September 2024;

4. Notes that the transfer of appropriations for an amount of EUR 17 000 000 in commitment appropriations and EUR 12 500 000 in payment appropriations, requested by the Commission in DEC 07/2024 and approved by the budgetary authority, has made available the respective appropriations on operational line 08 05 01 for 2024;

5. Stresses that the financial programming of line 08 05 01 needs to be enough to cater for the financial obligations in the years 2025-2027 subject to the decision of the budgetary authority in the annual budgetary procedures; in this regard, notes that line 08 05 01 in the 2025 Draft Budget and in the Council Position on the 2025 Draft Budget include an amount of EUR 150 560 000 in commitment appropriations and EUR 135 275 000 in payment appropriations; calls for scrutiny regarding the financial programming of line 08 05 01 in the annual budgets of 2026 and 2027;

6. Recalls that in line with Article 33 of the Financial Regulation, EU funding needs to respect the principle of efficiency and effectiveness in addition to sound financial management in order for the financial support granted from the EU budget to fully deliver on its objectives; believes that any possible circumvention of an EU Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement, including, for instance, that with Guinea-Bissau, by European boats or vessels with ownership or management links to European companies sailing and fishing under local flags poses a risk to the sound financial management and implementation of the EU budget; asks the Commission, therefore, to present an analysis of the impact of such circumventions on the efficiency and effectiveness of the implementation to the Budgetary Authority and to take corrective measures if needed;

7. Concludes that the Committee on Budgets is in a position to advise the Committee on Fisheries, as the committee responsible, to recommend approval of the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Implementing Protocol (2024-2029) to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR FOR BUDGETARY ASSESSMENT HAS RECEIVED INPUT

The rapporteur for budgetary assessment declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE ASKED FOR BUDGETARY ASSESSMENT

Title

Conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Implementing Protocol (2024-2029) to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau

References

12475/2024 – C10-0108/2024 – 2024/0159(NLE)

Committee(s) responsible

PECH

Date announced in plenary

BUDG

10.10.2024

Rapporteur for budgetary assessment

Date appointed

Jean-Marc Germain

7.10.2024

Discussed in committee

14.10.2024

Date adopted

21.11.2024

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

26

5

0

Members present for the final vote

Georgios Aftias, Isabel Benjumea Benjumea, Tomasz Buczek, Tamás Deutsch, Angéline Furet, Thomas Geisel, Jean-Marc Germain, Sandra Gómez López, Fabienne Keller, Janusz Lewandowski, Giuseppe Lupo, Ignazio Roberto Marino, Fernando Navarrete Rojas, Matjaž Nemec, Danuše Nerudová, Ruggero Razza, Bogdan Rzońca, Hélder Sousa Silva, Nicolae Ştefănuță, Joachim Streit, Carla Tavares, Nils Ušakovs, Auke Zijlstra

Substitutes present for the final vote

Moritz Körner, Tiago Moreira de Sá

Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote

Christophe Bay, Udo Bullmann, Andrzej Buła, Gheorghe Falcă, Ştefan Muşoiu, Jan-Christoph Oetjen

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL IN COMMITTEE ASKED FOR BUDGETARY ASSESSMENT

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