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PA_LegEvaluation

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BUDGETARY ASSESSMENT

SHORT JUSTIFICATION

for theA Committeefirst onfisheries Fisheriesagreement onbetween the proposal for a CouncilEuropean decisionUnion onand the conclusion, onDemocratic behalfRepublic of theSão Union,Tomé ofand thePríncipe Protocolbecame onoperative thein implementation1985. ofThe thelatest Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) between the Democratic RepublicEU ofand São Tomé and Príncipe entered into force on 29 August 2011 and is tacitly renewable for additional four-year periods. It remains in force but requires a Protocol for implementation, the Europeanprevious Communityone (2025–2029)having expired on 18 December 2024.

(COM(2025)0370 – C100246/2025 – 2025/0202(NLE))

The European Commission negotiated a new Protocol with the government of São Tomé and Príncipe, concluded on 9 April 2025 with the initialling of the agreement. The Protocol was formally signed on 6 October 2025 and extends over a four-year period from the date of signature, covering the period 2025–2029. The implementing Protocol sets conditions for EU fishing activities and contributions to the sustainable development of São Tomé and Príncipe's fisheries sector.

The Committee on Budgets has carried out a budgetary assessment of the proposal under Rule 58 of the Rules of Procedure and has reached the following conclusions:

The World Bank classifies São Tomé and Príncipe as a lower-middle-income country, and the country ranks 141st out of 193 countries on the Human Development Index (HDI). With 15.7% of its population living below the international poverty line, São Tomé and Príncipe graduated from the United Nations’ Least Developed Country (LDC) category in December 2024.

A. whereas the previous five-year Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement expired on 18 December 2024;

The fisheries sector is central to São Tomé and Príncipe’s economy and a vital source of livelihood for coastal communities, employing an estimated 4 300 fishers and 2 300 fish traders, and provides employment for an estimated 2800 female fish mongers (out of a total population of 240 000). With aquatic foods providing more than half of the population’s protein intake, fish plays a crucial role in national food security. The country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covers around 160 000 km², roughly 160 times the size of its land area, and its potential annual catch capacity is estimated at about 30 000 tons.

B. whereas the financial contribution to the new Protocol for the duration of its four-year period is EUR 3 300 000, based on:

The FPA, together with the Protocol, grants fishing opportunities to EU vessels from Spain, Portugal and France in São Tomé and Príncipe’s EEZ within the limits of the available surplus and in exchange for financial compensation. The provisions of the new Protocol are supposed to reinforce ocean governance and ensure better working conditions for fishers employed on EU vessels. The EU and São Tomé and Príncipe agreed to cooperate on the sustainability of fish stocks by increasing scientific knowledge and boosting capacity of local administrations to manage fisheries resources.

(a) an annual amount of EUR 325 000 for access to the fishery resources in São Tomé and Príncipe’s fishing zone, equivalent to a reference tonnage of 6 500 tonnes per year for highly migratory species, set at EUR 1 300 000 for the duration of the Protocol;

The Protocol regulates vessel licensing and fees and compliance with national and international obligations, setting conditions for EU vessels’ fishing activities in the EEZ. It also includes a commitment to respect the working conditions established by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), as well as by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

(b) support for development of the sectoral fisheries policy of São Tomé and Príncipe, amounting to EUR 500 000 per year, set at EUR 2 000 000 for the duration of the Protocol;

Additionally, the Protocol aims to enhance the sustainable management of fishery resources and the sustainable development of the sector. To this end, a sector support programme is established, focusing on (a) capacity support for monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing activities, with measures aimed at deterring and sanctioning infringements relating to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing; (b) scientific assessment of the fishery resources of São Tomé and Príncipe and management measures based on scientific advice; and (c) support for improving the value chains for fishery products, including by supporting fishing communities, in particular through support for employment and vocational training, with a particular focus on women and young people.

C. whereas the implementation of the Protocol requires the use of operational appropriations, as explained below:

With a total financial commitment of EUR 3.3 million over four years (EUR 825 000 annually) and a cap of 35 EU fishing vessels, the Agreement is modest in scale compared to others, such as the EU–Mauritania Agreement, which exceeds EUR 60 million per year. EUR 500 000 per year is allocated to support the implementation of São Tomé and Príncipe’s sectoral fisheries policy, while EUR 325 000 is paid annually for access, corresponding to a reference tonnage of 6 500 tonnes per year. EU vessel operators also pay fees, including a minimum annual fee per vessel and EUR 85 per tonne caught.

DG MARE

For the EU, the renewed fisheries cooperation with São Tomé and Príncipe is important given the country’s vast Exclusive Economic Zone, and its location in highly productive tuna migration corridors. For São Tomé and Príncipe, the Protocol reinforces a shared commitment to sustainable ocean governance, and provides resources to strengthen fisheries management, to improve monitoring and surveillance capacities, and to contribute to the development of artisanal fisheries and coastal communities.

Year 2025

For these reasons, the rapporteur recommends that the European Parliament gives its consent to the new Protocol. It is well-balanced, aligns with EU Member States’ priorities, promotes responsible and sustainable fisheries resource exploitation, and supports São Tomé and Príncipe’s national fisheries policy. The ex-post evaluation of the Protocol implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement for the period 2019–2024 shows that the Protocol has generally achieved its main objectives, and the ex-ante evaluation of the new Protocol confirms benefits for both parties.

Year 2026

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Year 2027

The Committee on Development calls on the Committee on Fisheries, as the committee responsible, to recommend approval of the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Protocol implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community (2025–2029).

Year 2028

ANNEX: DECLARATION OF INPUT

TOTAL

The rapporteur for opinion declares under her exclusive responsibility that she did not include in her opinion input from interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register, or from representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies, to be listed in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

Operational appropriations

PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Budget line 08 05 01

Title

Commitments

Conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community (2025–2029)

0.825

References

0.825

11609/2025 – C10-0246/2025 – 2025/0202(NLE)

0.825

Committee(s) responsible

0.825

Date announced in plenary

3.300

PECH

Payments

12.11.2025

0.825

Opinion by

0.825

Date announced in plenary

0.825

DEVE

0.825

12.11.2025

3.300

Rapporteur for the opinion

EUR million (to three decimal places)

Date appointed

D. whereas on 4 September 2025, Parliament approved DEC 13/2025 submitted by the Commission on 26 August 2025, which makes available the necessary appropriations on operational line 08 05 01 to honour the 2025 financial obligations resulting from the new Protocol;

Małgorzata Gosiewska

E. whereas the Protocol with São Tomé and Príncipe has been signed and entered into provisional application on 6 October 2025;

14.11.2025

1. Notes that the support allocated to the Protocol should meet the objectives of enabling Union vessels to fish in São Tomé and Príncipe’s fishing zone, enabling the Union and São Tomé and Príncipe to work closely together to further promote the development of a sustainable fisheries policy and the responsible exploitation of fishery resources in São Tomé and Príncipe’s fishing zone, and ensuring that the Union and São Tomé and Príncipe cooperate to contribute to decent working conditions in the fisheries sector; considers that there should be thorough scrutiny to ensure that the support meets those objectives effectively during the implementation of the Protocol;

Date adopted

2. Recommends that, for future agreements, an impact assessment of the added value and socio-economic benefits derived from the previous agreement be taken into account; considers that this assessment should guide the negotiation and renewal of subsequent agreements to ensure that they align with the objectives of sustainable development and efficient use of the Union’s financial resources;

24.2.2026

3. Notes that the transfer of appropriations for an amount of EUR 825 000 in commitment and of EUR 325 000 in payment appropriations, as submitted by the Commission in DEC 13/2025, was approved by the budgetary authority in the time limit provided for in the Financial Regulation; regrets that the decision on this budgetary matter is disconnected from, and has to be taken prior to, the decision on the consent to be given by Parliament to the new Protocol; underlines that decisions on the agreement itself and related budgetary matters are inextricably linked, and fears, therefore, that the disconnect risks de facto pre-empting the decision on consent and creating a fait accompli;

Result of final vote

4. Calls on the Commission to explain the need for the provisional application of the Protocol in question;

+:

5. Notes that the 2025 budget as voted on in plenary on 27 November 2024 includes amounts of EUR 90 590 000 in commitment appropriations (CA) and EUR 93 655 000 in payment appropriations (PA) on operational line 08 05 01, as well as amounts of EUR 59 970 000 in CA and EUR 41 620 000 in PA on reserve line 30 02 02; regrets that the amounts are cumulative and not broken down by fisheries agreements, thus making it difficult for Parliament to scrutinise budget implementation in this field;

–:

6. Stresses that the financial programming of line 08 05 01 needs to be sufficient to cater for the financial obligations in the years 2026-2027 subject to the decision of the budgetary authority in the annual budgetary procedures; calls for scrutiny regarding the financial programming of line 08 05 01 in the annual budgets of 2026 and 2027;

0:

7. Concludes that the Committee on Budgets is in a position to advise the Committee on Fisheries, as the committee responsible, to recommend approval of the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Protocol (2025–2029) on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community.

18

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1

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

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