EC/Denmark/Greenland fisheries agreement: period from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2006. Modification of the 4th Protocol

The committee adopted the report by Rosa MIGUÉLEZ RAMOS (PES, E) approving the proposal under the consultation procedure, subject to a few amendments. The committee felt that it was not appropriate for the Commission to reallocate unused fishing opportunities to vessels of another Member State which so requests, on the grounds that the transfer or exchange of quotas lay within the competence of the Member States. It proposed instead that the Commission should act as a regulator and hence "establish consultative procedures between Member States in order to facilitate the optimum use of fishing opportunities". Other amendments reflected the traditional position taken by Parliament on renewing fishing agreements, namely, that a general assessment report should be presented by the Commission before the beginning of negotiations in order to allow an evaluation of the costs and benefits of the fisheries agreement and protocol. Only after the report had been received and Parliament had given its opinion thereon should the Council authorise the Commission to enter into negotiations for a possible new Protocol.�