PURPOSE: to conclude the Protocol implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cabo Verde (2024-2029).

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: in accordance with a Council Decision, Protocol (2024-2029) implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cabo Verde was signed, subject to its conclusion at a later date.

The Protocol should be approved on behalf of the Union.

CONTENT: the purpose of the draft Council Decision is to approve, on behalf of the Union, the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cabo Verde (2024-2029).

The objectives of the Protocol are to allow Union vessels to fish in Cabo Verde’s fishing zone and to enable the Union and Cabo Verde to work closely together to further promote the development of a sustainable fisheries policy and the responsible exploitation of fishery resources in Cabo Verde’s fishing zone. That cooperation will also contribute to decent working conditions in the fisheries sector.

The agreement establishes the Joint Committee responsible for monitoring its implementation. Furthermore, in accordance with the Protocol, the Joint Committee may adopt certain modifications to the Protocol. To facilitate the approval of such amendments, the Commission should be authorised, subject to specific substantive and procedural conditions, to approve them on behalf of the Union under a simplified procedure.

The Union’s position on proposed amendments to the Protocol should be established by the Council. The proposed amendments should be approved unless a blocking minority of Member States objects to them.

The position to be adopted by the Union in the Joint Committee on other matters should be determined in accordance with the Treaties and established forms of practice.

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union, the Protocol (2024-2029) implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cabo Verde.

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 European Community and the Republic of Cabo Verde (FPA) was signed on 12 February 2007 and entered into force on 30 March 2007 for a period of 5 years. It is tacitly renewable and is therefore still in force. A previous 5-year FPA Implementing Protocol entered into force on 20 May 2019 and expired on 19 May 2024.

On 19 December 2023, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations for a new Protocol to the FPA.

The Commission conducted negotiations with Cabo Verde on the conclusion of a new Protocol implementing the FPA between the European Community and Cabo Verde. The objective is to allow Union vessels to enter Cabo Verde’s fishing zone to fish for tuna and related species in accordance with the measures adopted by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). Following these negotiations, a new text of the Implementing Protocol was signed on 15 April 2024.

The new Protocol covers a period of 5 years from the date of provisional application.

CONTENT: the purpose of this proposal is to conclude the new Protocol (2024-2029) implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cabo Verde.

The main aim of the Protocol to the FPA is to provide an updated framework that takes into account the priorities of the common fisheries policy (CFP) and its external dimension. The new Protocol aims to grant fishing opportunities to Union vessels in the fishing zones located in Cabo Verde’s waters, in accordance with scientific advice and ICCAT recommendations. Another objective is to strengthen cooperation between the Union and Cabo Verde by implementing the FPA partnership framework to develop a sustainable fisheries policy and promote sound exploitation of fishery resources in Cabo Verde’s waters, in the interests of both parties.

Fishing opportunities

The new Protocol allows Union vessels to fish for tuna in Cabo Verde’s waters and provides for the following fishing opportunities:

- 24 tuna seiners;

- 22 surface longliners;

- 10 pole-and-line vessels;

in addition to support vessels in accordance with the relevant ICCAT resolutions.

Financial contribution

The financial contribution for the entire duration of the Protocol is EUR 3 900 000 (i.e. EUR 780 000 per year), based on:

- a reference tonnage of 7 000 tonnes, for which an annual amount linked to access has been set at EUR 350 000;

- support for developing Cabo Verde’s sectoral fisheries policy, amounting to EUR 430 000 per year.

This support meets the objectives of cooperation in the fields of sustainable exploitation of fishery resources, aquaculture, sustainable development of the oceans, protection of the marine environment, and the blue economy.

The annual amount for commitment and payment appropriations is established during the annual budgetary procedure, including for the reserve line for protocols not yet having entered into force at the beginning of the year.