Marrakesh Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization (WTO): Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. Protocol

The European Parliament adopted by 593 votes to 7, with 43 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Protocol amending the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the World Trade Organisation, with regard to the Agreement on fisheries subsidies.

Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Protocol.

The Fisheries Subsidies Agreement takes the form of a Protocol to the Marrakech Agreement establishing the WTO and is incorporated into the Marrakech Agreement.

The Fisheries Agreement therefore contains several important disciplines, including the prohibition of the granting or continuation of fisheries subsidies to:

- vessels or operators engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing or fishing-related activities supporting IUU fishing;

- fishing or fishing-related activities concerning overexploited stocks; and

- unregulated fishing or fishing-related activities on the high seas.

The Agreement contains detailed transparency and reporting provisions to monitor the implementation of the agreement.