PURPOSE: the conclusion of a fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Solomon Islands

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Regulation 563/2006/EC concerning the conclusion of a Partnership Agreement between the European Community and Solomon Islands on fishing off Solomon Islands.

CONTENT: this Council Regulation confirms the Agreement between the European Communities and the Solomon Islands on fishing opportunities in the waters off the Islands. The fishing opportunities set out in the Protocol (attached to the Regulation) are as follows:

- Freezer tuna seiners: Spain: 75% of fishing possibilities available. France: 25% of fishing possibilities available;

- Surface long liners: Spain: six vessels. France: four vessels.

In cases where the licence applications from these Member States do not cover all the fishing opportunities fixed by the Protocol, the Commission may take into consideration licence applications from any other Member State.

In addition, this Agreement established the principles rules and procedures governing the economic, financial, technical and scientific co-operation in the fisheries sector. It seeks to enhance responsible fishing in the fishing zone off the Solomon Islands and to guarantee conservation as well as the sustainable exploitation of fishers in the area. The Agreement sets out the conditions governing access to the fishing zone by Community vessels; sets out the arrangements for policing fisheries in the Solomon Islands as well as for the effective conservation and management of fish stock, the prevention of illegal, undeclared and unregulated fishing and the setting up of a partnership between companies seeking to develop economic activities in the fisheries sector. In other provision, the Agreement and accompanying Protocol stipulate that:

- Community vessels operating in the waters off the Solomon Islands must employ at least one seaman from the Solomon Islands and that working conditions on board musts be in accordance with the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

- The state of resources will be monitored by a Scientific Committee set up by both parties.

- The Solomon Islands authorise Community vessels to engage in fishing activities in its fishing zone. Any such fishing activity will be subject to the laws and Regulations of the Solomon Islands.

- The conditions for obtaining a Licence are specified in the accompanying Protocol.

- The Community will grant the Solomon Islands a single financial contribution which will be calculated according to access by Community vessels to the fishing zone and the Community’s financial support for enhancing sustainable fishing. The single financial contribution will be EUR 400 000 per year. A share of 30% of the contribution will be put towards the definition and implementation of a sectoral fisheries policy in the Solomon Islands with a view to enhancing responsible fishing.

- Both Parties will encourage economic, commercial, scientific and technical co-operation in the fisheries sector

- A Joint Committee will be set up to monitor the implementation of this Agreement

- The Agreement applies to the territories of the EU, as defined in the EU Treaty establishing the European Community on the one hand, and the territory of the Solomon Islands on the other hand.

- The Agreement will apply for three years from the date of its entry into force. It will be automatically renewed for an additional three years, unless notice of termination is given.

- The Agreement may be terminated by either Party in the event of serious circumstances (such as the degradation of stocks). In which case either Party must give written notification six months before the Agreement is to be terminated.

- The European Community may suspend payment of the financial contribution on the grounds of force majeure – in other words under circumstances (other than natural phenomena) which prevent fishing activities off the Solomon Islands.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 20 April 2006. The Protocol, with its Annexes, enters into force on the date on which the Parties notify each other of the completion of the procedure necessary for that purpose. It shall apply with effect not before 1 January 2005.

Regulation 2006/563
OJ L 105 13.04.2006, p. 0033-0053

SP(2006)1012

Results of vote in Parliament

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Carmen FRAGA ESTÉVEZ (EPP-ED, ES) and made some amendments to the Commission’s proposal. (Please see the document of 31/01/2006.)

T6-0050/2006

A6-0018/2006

A6-0018/2006

The committee adopted the report by Carmen FRAGA ESTÉVEZ (EPP-ED, ES) approving the proposal under the consultation procedure, subject to a number of amendments. These reflected the traditional position taken by Parliament on renewing fishing agreements, namely, that a general report on the application of the agreement should be presented by the Commission before any decision is taken to renew the Protocol. Only after the report had been received and Parliament had been consulted should the Council authorise the Commission to enter into negotiations for a possible new Protocol.

MEPs called for the Commission to draw up annual reports on the implementation of the agreement so that Parliament had the information it needed for the purposes of evaluation . They also wanted the Commission to forward a copy of the multiannual sectoral programme which would be drawn up jointly by the Solomon Island authorities and the European Union . Finally, the committee wanted shipowners to be given a say, given that they were meeting a significant part of the costs of the agreement. It therefore stipulated that, " when the first meeting of the Joint Committee provided for in Article 9 of the Agreement is held, the Commission shall inform the Solomon Island authorities of the attendance of shipowners' representatives at subsequent meetings of the Joint Committee. "

PE367.779

PE362.859

PURPOSE: The conclusion of a Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Solomon Islands on fishing off the Solomon Islands.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Regulation

CONTENT: With the Central West Pacific said to account for 50% of total tuna catches world wide and with scientific studies indicating that the current state of tuna stock is good, the Council mandated the Commission to negotiate a bilateral tuna fishery agreements with the States in the Central West Pacific, with a view to set up a network of tuna Agreements for the EU. Negotiations with the Solomon Islands began at the end of 2003 and were concluded by July 2004. The actual Agreement enters into force once both Parties exchange notification of the correct implementation of the procedures.

The Agreement with the Solomon Islands is the first to take adopt a ‘partnership’ approach. The Protocol attached to the Agreement establishes the fishing possibilities and the financial contribution, which has been concluded for an initial period of three years. The terms of the Protocol are such that the concession for fishing possibilities by the Solomon Islands for EC vessels must be compatible with decisions taken in the context of the ‘Palau Arrangement for the Management of the Western Pacific purse Seine Fishery.’ Moreover any fishing that takes place must be in line with tuna stock assessments based on scientific evaluations.

Concerning the fishing possibilities themselves, the Protocol states that four purse seine vessels and ten surface long-liners are allowed to fish. As from the second year, the fishing possibilities may be increased at the request of the Community depending on decisions emanating from the Palau Arrangement.

The global financial contribution has been fixed at EUR 400 000 per year. Starting from the second year, for each additional purse seine vessel licence obtained the financial contribution may be increased by EUR 65 000 per year. The Solomon Islands have thus decided to allocate 30% of the annual financial contribution towards the definition and implementation of a sectoral fishery policy.

As far as the monitoring of fishing activities is concerned, the Annex to the Protocol establishes that EC vessels will have to comply with all regional provisions. EC ship-owners must pay fishing fees of EUR 13 000 per purse seine vessel and EUR 3000 for each long-liner vessel. In addition, EC ship owners are required o embark at least one seaman per vessel and contribute towards the Observers’ programme.

Given that a tuna industry for the EU could be strategically important combined with the benefits to conservation that this Agreement carries, the Commission believes that the Agreement offers the EU good value for money. Based on this assertion, the Commission proposes that the Council adopt the conclusion of this new Fisheries Agreement between the EU and the Solomon Islands.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:

- Budget lines and headings: 110301: “International Fisheries Agreements” and 11010404: “International Fisheries Agreements, administrative expenditure”.

- Overall figures: Between EUR 1 240 000 at the lowest and EUR 3 900 000 at the highest

- Period of application: The Agreement has been concluded for an initial period of three years renewable until denunciation by one of the two Parties.

- Overall multi-annual estimate of expenditure – commitment appropriations/payment appropriations:

- Technical and administrative assistance and support expenditure: EUR 40 000 for the total period.

- Administrative expenses not included in the reference amount: EUR 231 000 for a three year period, including human resources (65 000) plus other administrative costs of EUR 12 000 per year.

COM(2005)0404
EUR-Lex

PURPOSE: The conclusion of a Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Solomon Islands on fishing off the Solomon Islands.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Regulation

CONTENT: With the Central West Pacific said to account for 50% of total tuna catches world wide and with scientific studies indicating that the current state of tuna stock is good, the Council mandated the Commission to negotiate a bilateral tuna fishery agreements with the States in the Central West Pacific, with a view to set up a network of tuna Agreements for the EU. Negotiations with the Solomon Islands began at the end of 2003 and were concluded by July 2004. The actual Agreement enters into force once both Parties exchange notification of the correct implementation of the procedures.

The Agreement with the Solomon Islands is the first to take adopt a ‘partnership’ approach. The Protocol attached to the Agreement establishes the fishing possibilities and the financial contribution, which has been concluded for an initial period of three years. The terms of the Protocol are such that the concession for fishing possibilities by the Solomon Islands for EC vessels must be compatible with decisions taken in the context of the ‘Palau Arrangement for the Management of the Western Pacific purse Seine Fishery.’ Moreover any fishing that takes place must be in line with tuna stock assessments based on scientific evaluations.

Concerning the fishing possibilities themselves, the Protocol states that four purse seine vessels and ten surface long-liners are allowed to fish. As from the second year, the fishing possibilities may be increased at the request of the Community depending on decisions emanating from the Palau Arrangement.

The global financial contribution has been fixed at EUR 400 000 per year. Starting from the second year, for each additional purse seine vessel licence obtained the financial contribution may be increased by EUR 65 000 per year. The Solomon Islands have thus decided to allocate 30% of the annual financial contribution towards the definition and implementation of a sectoral fishery policy.

As far as the monitoring of fishing activities is concerned, the Annex to the Protocol establishes that EC vessels will have to comply with all regional provisions. EC ship-owners must pay fishing fees of EUR 13 000 per purse seine vessel and EUR 3000 for each long-liner vessel. In addition, EC ship owners are required o embark at least one seaman per vessel and contribute towards the Observers’ programme.

Given that a tuna industry for the EU could be strategically important combined with the benefits to conservation that this Agreement carries, the Commission believes that the Agreement offers the EU good value for money. Based on this assertion, the Commission proposes that the Council adopt the conclusion of this new Fisheries Agreement between the EU and the Solomon Islands.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:

- Budget lines and headings: 110301: “International Fisheries Agreements” and 11010404: “International Fisheries Agreements, administrative expenditure”.

- Overall figures: Between EUR 1 240 000 at the lowest and EUR 3 900 000 at the highest

- Period of application: The Agreement has been concluded for an initial period of three years renewable until denunciation by one of the two Parties.

- Overall multi-annual estimate of expenditure – commitment appropriations/payment appropriations:

- Technical and administrative assistance and support expenditure: EUR 40 000 for the total period.

- Administrative expenses not included in the reference amount: EUR 231 000 for a three year period, including human resources (65 000) plus other administrative costs of EUR 12 000 per year.

COM(2005)0404
EUR-Lex