(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the proposal for a Council regulation (COM(2006)0454)(1),

–   having regard to Article 300(2), first subparagraph of the EC Treaty,

–   having regard to Article 300(3), first subparagraph, of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C6-0303/2006),

–   having regard to Rules 51 and 83(7) of its Rules of Procedure,

–   having regard to the report of the Committee on Fisheries and the opinions of the Committee on Budgets and the Committee on Development (A6-0477/2006),

1.  Approves the proposal for a Council regulation as amended and approves conclusion of the agreement;

2.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States and of the Gabonese Republic.

Text proposed by the Commission   Amendments by Parliament Amendment 1 Recital 2 a (new) (2a) The EC financial compensation will be used for the development of coastal populations dependent on fisheries as well as for the creation of small local freezing and processing industries; Amendment 2 Article 3 a (new) Article 3a During the final year of the period of application of the Protocol and before any new agreement is concluded or the period of application of the Agreement attached to this Regulation is extended, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and the Council a report on the application of the Agreement and the conditions under which it was implemented. Amendment 3 Article 3 b (new) Article 3b The Commission shall report annually to the European Parliament and the Council on the results of the multiannual sectoral programme described in Article 7 of the Protocol. Amendment 4 Article 3 c (new) Article 3c On the basis of the report submitted by the Commission pursuant to Article 3a and after consulting the European Parliament, the Council shall if appropriate confer upon the Commission a negotiating mandate with a view to the adoption of a new Protocol. Amendment 5 Article 3 d (new) Article 3d The Commission shall evaluate each year whether Member States whose vessels fish under the Agreement have complied with reporting requirements.

(1) Not yet published in OJ.