On the Council Decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Protocol (2024-2029) implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cabo Verde

BUDGETARY ASSESSMENT

for the Committee on Fisheries on the Council Decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Protocol (2024-2029) implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cabo Verde

(COM(2024)0236 – C10-0087/2024 – 2024/0133(NLE))

The Committee on Budgets has carried out a budgetary assessment of the Council Decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Protocol (2024-2029) implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cabo Verde 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 3 900 000 (i.e. EUR 780 000 per year), based on:

(a) a reference tonnage of 7 000 tonnes, for which an annual amount linked to access has been set at EUR 350 000;

(b) support for developing Cabo Verde’s sectoral fisheries policy, amounting to EUR 430 000 per year;

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

EUR million (to three decimal places)

C. whereas the annual amount for commitment and payment appropriations is established during the annual budgetary procedure, including for the reserve line for protocols not yet having entered into force at the beginning of the year;

1. Considers that the support meets 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; 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 EU 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 is 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 EU’s financial resources;

3. Notes that the Protocol implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with Cabo Verde had not yet entered into force at the beginning of this year;

4. Recalls that the IIA requires that amounts provided for in the budget for the renewal of fisheries agreements that enter into force after 1 January of the financial year concerned are to be put in reserve;

5. Recalls that the use of the appropriations in reserve requires a transfer in accordance with Article 31 of the Financial Regulation for the amount concerned from reserve line 30 02 02 to operational line 08 05 01;

6. Recalls that the Financial Regulation requires the Commission to only sign a protocol with financial implications when appropriations are available on the operational line;

7. Notes that the Protocol with Cabo Verde was signed on 23 July 2024;

8. Expresses its concern that no request for a transfer was presented to the Committee on Budgets before the signing of the Protocol;

9. Takes note of the information from the Commission that for 2024 part of the unused appropriations for the implementation of the fisheries agreement with Greenland were available on operational line 08 05 01 and would be used for the implementation of the Protocol with Cabo Verde;

10. Considers that this practice does not respect the provisions of the IIA; furthermore, maintains that appropriations are to be used for the purpose for which they have been entered into the budget;

11. Notes the relatively small amount linked to the implementation of the Protocol with Cabo Verde that might explain why the Commission has deviated from the required procedure; considers this to be a special situation that can be accepted by way of an exception;

12. Demands that the Commission act in compliance with the provisions of the IIA for any future fisheries agreement regardless of the amount involved;

13. Considers that the financial programming of line 08 05 01 is deemed 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;

14. 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 Protocol (2024-2029) implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cabo Verde.