opinion parliamentary committee draft, 3 October 2024
On the Council Decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (2024-2029)
Document BUDG-PA-765009 · (COM(2024)0285 – C100108/2024 – 2024/0159(NLE))
Committee on Budgets · Rapporteur: JeanMarc Germain
AI:In short
This draft opinion assesses the budgetary aspects of the Council Decision on the EU-Guinea-Bissau Fisheries Partnership Agreement Protocol (2024-2029). It notes the financial contribution and calls for scrutiny of support effectiveness and financial programming.
Position. The Committee on Budgets concludes that it can advise the Committee on Fisheries to recommend approval of the proposed Council Decision on the Protocol.
Key points
- The financial contribution for the entire Protocol duration is EUR 85,000,000, or EUR 17,000,000 per year, with EUR 12,500,000 annually for access to fishery resources and EUR 4,500,000 annually for sectoral policy support.
- Support under the Protocol should meet objectives in sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, ocean development, marine protection, and blue economy, and should be scrutinized for effectiveness.
- The Protocol with Guinea-Bissau was signed on 18 September 2024.
- A transfer of EUR 17,000,000 in commitment appropriations and EUR 12,500,000 in payment appropriations was approved for 2024 on budget line 08 05 01.
- Financial programming for line 08 05 01 must cover obligations for 2025-2027, subject to annual budgetary decisions; the 2025 Draft Budget and Council Position include EUR 150,560,000 in CA and EUR 135,275,000 in PA.
- The Committee on Budgets advises the Committee on Fisheries to recommend approval of the proposed Council Decision.
Who is affected
- The European Union and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, as parties to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement Protocol.
- EU fishing vessels, which gain access to Guinea-Bissau's fishing zone under the Protocol.
Figures and deadlines
- EUR 85,000,000 total financial contribution for the Protocol duration.
- EUR 17,000,000 per year financial contribution.
- EUR 12,500,000 per year for access to fishery resources.
- EUR 4,500,000 per year for sectoral policy support.
- EUR 17,000,000 in commitment appropriations and EUR 12,500,000 in payment appropriations transferred for 2024.
- EUR 150,560,000 in CA and EUR 135,275,000 in PA for line 08 05 01 in the 2025 Draft Budget and Council Position.
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Full text
Text 17 paragraphs
BUDGETARY ASSESSMENT
for the Committee on Fisheries on the Council Decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (2024-2029)
(COM(2024)0285 – C10-0108/2024 – 2024/0159(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 on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (2024-2029) 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 |
Read the rest (5 paragraphs)
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;
2.Notes that the Protocol with Guinea-Bissau was signed on 18 September 2024;
3.Notes that the transfer of appropriations for an amount of EUR 17 000 000 in the commitment appropriations (CA) and EUR 12 500 000 in the payment appropriations (PA), requested by the European 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;
4.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 the 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 CA and EUR 135 275 000 in PA; calls for scrutiny regarding the financial programming of line 08 05 01 in the annual budgets of 2026 and 2027;
5.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 of the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (2024-2029).