The European Parliament adopted by 589 votes to 51, with 48 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community.

In line with the recommendation of the Committee on Fisheries, the European Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Protocol.

The Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community entered into force on 29 August 2011 and has been tacitly renewed since then. The last Protocol to the Fisheries Agreement between the two Parties, which entered into force on 23 May 2014, expired on 22 May 2018.

The new Protocol:

- provides fishing opportunities for EU vessels in São Tomé and Príncipe waters, based on the best available scientific advice and in line with the recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT);

- shall allow the European Union and São Tomé and Príncipe to cooperate more closely to promote the responsible exploitation of fisheries resources in São Tomé and Príncipe waters and to support São Tomé and Príncipe's efforts to develop its fisheries sector, in the interests of both parties.

The Protocol provides for fishing opportunities in the following categories: 28 freezer tuna seiners (16 for Spain and 12 for France) and six surface longliners (five for Spain and one licence for Portugal).

The Union's annual financial contribution amounts to EUR 840 000:

- a reference tonnage of 8 000 tonnes per year, for which an access related amount has been fixed at EUR 400 000 per year for the duration of the Protocol, and

- support for the development of São Tomé and Príncipe's sectoral fisheries policy, amounting to EUR 440 000 per year for the duration of the Protocol.

PURPOSE: to allocate fishing opportunities under the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe and the European Community.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Regulation.

BACKGROUND: this procedure is initiated in parallel with the procedures related to the Council Decision on the signature, on behalf of the Union, of the Protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe and the European Community and the Council Decision on its conclusion.

A new protocol was initialled on 17 April 2019. The Protocol covers a period of five years from the date of its provisional application, i.e. from the date of its signature. It provides the following fishing opportunities for EU vessels: (a) 28 freezer tuna seiners; (b) 6 surface longliners. The method for allocating these fishing opportunities among Member States should be established.

CONTENT: the draft Council Regulation provides that the fishing opportunities established under the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe and the European Community shall be allocated among the Member States as follows:

(a) tuna seiners: Spain: [16] vessels; France: [12] vessels;

(b) surface longliners: Spain: [5] vessels; Portugal: [1] vessel.

The Protocol shall apply provisionally from the date of its signature. In order to ensure an expeditious start to fishing activities by Union vessels, this Regulation should therefore apply from the same date.

PURPOSE: signature, on behalf of the European Union, and provisional application of the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe and the European Community

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

BACKGROUND: the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community entered into force on 29 August 2011 and has since been renewed automatically. The previous Protocol to the Agreement, which entered into force on 23 May 2014, expired on 22 May 2018.

On 18 December 2017, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe with a view to concluding a new Protocol on the implementation of the Agreement. These negotiations were successfully concluded and the Protocol was initialled on 17 April 2019.

This new Protocol takes into account the results of an evaluation of the previous Protocol (2014-2018) and of a forward-looking assessment of whether a new Protocol should be concluded.

The evaluation report concluded that the EU’s tuna fishing sector has a strong interest in fishing in São Tomé and Príncipe and that a renewal of the Protocol would help strengthen monitoring, control and surveillance and contribute to improved governance of the fisheries in the region.

CONTENT: the Commission proposes that the Council decide to authorise, on behalf of the Union, the signing of the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe and the European Community.

The objective of the Protocol is to enable the European Union and São Tomé and Príncipe to work more closely on promoting a sustainable fisheries policy and sound exploitation of fisheries resources in São Tomé and Príncipe waters and to support efforts by São Tomé and Príncipe to develop its fisheries sector.

The Protocol provides for fishing opportunities in the following categories: (a) 28 freezer tuna seiners; (b) 6 surface longliners.

The annual financial contribution from the European Union is EUR 840 000, based on:

- a reference tonnage of 8 000 tonnes per year, for which an amount linked to access has been set at EUR 400 000 per year for the entire duration of the Protocol;

- support for the development of São Tomé and Príncipe’s sectoral fisheries policy amounting to EUR 440 000 per year for the entire duration of the Protocol. This support meets the objectives of São Tomé and Príncipe’s national policy on the sustainable management of its continental and maritime fishery resources for the entire duration of the Protocol. The annual amount for commitment and payment appropriations is established during the annual budgetary procedure.

The Protocol covers a period of five years from the date of its provisional application, i.e. from the date of its signature.

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union, the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe and the European Community.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

BACKGROUND: the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community entered into force on 29 August 20112 and has since been renewed automatically. The previous Protocol to the Agreement, which entered into force on 23 May 2014, expired on 22 May 2018.

The evaluation report concluded that the Union’s tuna fishing sector has a strong interest in fishing in São Tomé and Príncipe and that a renewal of the Protocol would help strengthen monitoring, control and surveillance and contribute to improved governance of the fisheries in the region.

The Commission conducted negotiations with the Government of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe with a view to concluding a new Protocol to the Agreement. Following these negotiations, a new Protocol was initialled on 17 April 2019. The Protocol covers a period of five years from the date of its provisional application, i.e. from the date on which it is signed.

The negotiation of a new protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with São Tomé and Príncipe forms part of the Union’s external action in relation to countries in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States and takes into account, in particular, Union objectives on respecting democratic principles and human rights.

CONTENT: the Commission proposes that the Council decide to approve, on behalf of the Union, the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe and the European Community.

Objectives of the proposal

The objective of the Protocol is to enable the Union and São Tomé and Príncipe to work more closely on promoting a sustainable fisheries policy and sound exploitation of fisheries resources in São Tomé and Príncipe waters and to support efforts by São Tomé and Príncipe to develop its fisheries sector.

Fishing opportunities

In accordance with the priorities of the Fisheries Policy reform, the new Protocol provides fishing opportunities for Union vessels in São Tomé and Príncipe waters, on the basis of the best available scientific advice and following the recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT).

The Protocol provides for fishing opportunities in the following categories: (a) 28 freezer tuna seiners; (b) 6 surface longliners.

The annual financial contribution from the European Union is EUR 840 000, based on:

- a reference tonnage of 8 000 tonnes per year, for which an amount linked to access has been set at EUR 400 000 per year for the entire duration of the Protocol;

- support for the development of São Tomé and Príncipe’s sectoral fisheries policy amounting to EUR 440 000 per year for the entire duration of the Protocol. This support meets the objectives of São Tomé and Príncipe’s national policy on the sustainable management of its continental and maritime fishery resources for the entire duration of the Protocol. The annual amount for commitment and payment appropriations is established during the annual budgetary procedure.

The Commission is authorised to approve, on behalf of the Union, amendments to the Protocol to be adopted by the Joint Committee established under the Fisheries Partnership Agreement.