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

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 taking account, in particular, of the Union’s objectives with regard to democratic principles and human rights, strengthening 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 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 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 be put in the reserve;

5.Recalls that the use of the appropriations in the 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 submitted 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 was 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, which 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.Stresses that the financial programming of line 08 05 01 needs to be enough to cater for the financial obligations for 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 includes 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;

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