EU/Greenland/Denmark Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement and Implementation Protocol

The Committee on Fisheries adopted the recommendation by Pierre KARLESKIND (Renew Europe, FR) on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of a Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union on the one hand, and the Government of Greenland and the Government of Denmark, on the other hand and the Implementation Protocol thereto.

The committee recommended that the European Parliament give its consent to the conclusion of the agreement.

As a reminder, the aim of the new agreement and protocol will enable 12 EU vessels to make use of fishing opportunities in Greenland’s waters for eight species: cod, pelagic redfish, demersal redfish, Greenland halibut, northern prawn, grenadier, capelin and Atlantic mackerel. The agreement will be valid for four years renewable for a further two. Members considered that the new agreement and protocol needed to be negotiated to bring them closer into line with fishing opportunities and scientific advice, to increase flexibility regarding catches, to introduce a lower by-catch quota and establish a six-year validity period for the protocol.

In general, both the agreement and the protocol will contribute to better management and conservation of fishery resources, through financial support (sectoral support) for the implementation of programmes adopted at national level by the partner country, in particular to reinforce monitoring, control and surveillance.

The agreement provides for financial compensation from the EU of EUR 16 521 754, of which EUR 2 931 000 is earmarked for support for and the development of Greenland’s fisheries sector.

It was stressed in the explanatory statement that the negotiations on the agreement and protocol thereto were held in parallel with the negotiations on the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which delayed the conclusion of an agreement. It was also stressed that Brexit has destabilised relations with all North Atlantic countries and therefore particular attention needs to be paid to this state of affairs.