Plenary Session: EC-Mauritania Fisheries Partnership Agreement: fishing opportunities and financial contribution. Extension of the Protocol

EC-Mauritania Fisheries Partnership Agreement: fishing opportunities and financial contribution. Extension of the Protocol (A9-0088/2020 - Clara Aguilera)

I voted in favour of extending this partnership agreement between the EU and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania for one year in order to allow a longer period for negotiations on a new protocol. The original agreement was signed in May 2016 and supported by the Group of the Greens/EFA, as it marked a positive step in the history of partnership agreements in the fisheries sector.

This 2016 agreement strengthened sectoral support for local fishermen, not discriminating against EU fleets compared to other foreign fleets, and asked Mauritania to make public all other fisheries agreements with third countries, giving the EU fleet priority access to surpluses available.
Regarding the report accompanying this extension, I agree with the rapporteur's warnings and requests, namely the fact that the EU should demand that sustainable management be an indispensable condition for a new protocol. Her report also includes the main requests from the Mauritanian small fisheries sector, which has repeatedly requested that part of the acquis from the previous protocol be maintained. We will carefully follow the ongoing negotiations regarding this new protocol, which will be presented later this year.

Share this post