EC/Sao Tomé and Principe fisheries agreement: protocol for the period from 1st June 2002 to 31 May 2005

The committee adopted the report by Carlos LAGE (PES, P) broadly approving the proposal subject to a few amendments (under the consultation procedure). The committee was concerned that Parliament should be provided with better information to enable it to carry out its duties under the consultation procedure and therefore stipulated that, before any agreement on renewal of the protocol, the Commission should submit to Parliament and Council a general assessment report on the implementation of the Agreement, including a cost benefit analysis. Moreover, in view of the financial and social importance of targeted measures, the committee also wanted a copy of the report on the targeted measures which the authorities of São Tomé e Príncipe were required to provide to be forwarded to Parliament. Only after both these reports had been received and Parliament consulted should the Council authorise the Commission to enter into negotiations for adopting a new protocol. Lastly, the report called for the Protocol to incorporate the social clause adopted by the sea fishing industry Social Dialogue Committee in December 2001 guaranteeing equal treatment for both EU and non-EU seamen sailing on EU vessels in such matters as freedom of association, collective bargaining and living and working conditions.�