Current situation and perspectives of fisheries agreements

On the basis of a series of amendments and compromises the Committee unanimously adopted the own-initiative report by Mr Peter CRAMPTON (PSE, UK) on international fisheries agreements. The report focused on the agreements reached with developing countries, which in most cases provided for access to surplus fishery stocks in the waters of these countries in exchange for financial compensation. While stressing that the 'fundamental objective' of these agreements was not to help develop the local economies, which was rather the responsibility of development policy, the report stated that such agreements nevertheless had a major impact on sectoral development in many countries. A balance therefore had to be found between the interests of the Community fishing fleet and those of the developing countries which were signatory to these agreements. To this effect the report proposed a number of guidelines which should be taken into consideration by the Commission when concluding agreements of this type. These included the availability of reliable information on the resources situation and the periodical evaluation of these resources, the assessment of local resources in respect of scientific research, monitoring and control, consultations with local representatives to ensure that the interests of local fishing communities were taken into account, coordination with other Community activities and the provision of an assessment system which was not limited merely to the financial aspects of the agreement in cost-benefit terms. The report took the view that applying these guidelines to the fisheries agreements would benefit both the EU and third countries alike. �