What changed between the draft committee report and the plenary report

Changed:Guinea-Bissau has 1.81.9 million inhabitants from 11 ethnic groups. Half of the population lives in urban areas. This figure is expected to rise. Approximately 60% of the population is under the age of 25. The country has both a high fertility rate and a high infant mortality rate (54.8 deaths per thousand births). More than 40% of the population is illiterate. Since the signing of the previous protocol the country has dropped 2 places and is ranked 179th out of 193 in the United Nations Human Development Index (UNDP, 2021).

Added:BUDGETARY ASSESSMENT OF THE COMMITTEE ON BUDGETS

Added:for the Committee on Fisheries

Added: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

Added:Rapporteur for budgetary assessment: JeanMarc Germain

Added: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:

Added: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:

Added:(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

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

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

Added:EUR million (to three decimal places)

Added: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;

Added: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;

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

Added: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;

Added: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;

Added: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;

Added: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.