What changed

PR_NLE-AP_Agreement

PA_LegEvaluation

Symbols for procedures

BUDGETARY ASSESSMENT

* Consultation procedure

for the Committee on Fisheries on the proposal for a Council decision on the 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)

*** Consent procedure

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

***I Ordinary legislative procedure (first reading)

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:

***II Ordinary legislative procedure (second reading)

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

***III Ordinary legislative procedure (third reading)

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 type of procedure depends on the legal basis proposed by the draft act.)

(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;

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

(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;

on the draft Council decision on the 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)

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

(11609/2025 – C100246/2025 – 2025/0202(NLE))

DG MARE

(Consent)

Year 2025

– having regard to the draft Council decision (11609/2025),

Year 2026

– having regard to the draft Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community (2025–2029) (11606/2025),

Year 2027

– having regard to the request for consent submitted by the Council in accordance with Articles 43(2) and Article 218(6), second subparagraph, point (a)(v), of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (C100246/2025),

Year 2028

– having regard to the budgetary assessment by the Committee on Budgets,

TOTAL

– having regard to Rule 107(1) and (4), and Rule 117(7) of its Rules of Procedure,

Operational appropriations

– having regard to the opinion of the Committee on Development,

Budget line 08 05 01

– having regard to the recommendation of the Committee on Fisheries (A100000/2025),

Commitments

1. Gives its consent to the conclusion of the protocol;

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2. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States and of São Tomé and Príncipe.

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EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

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Introduction

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The Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe is an island country in the Gulf of Guinea/ West Africa. With a population of about 200.000, it is one of the smallest countries in Africa.

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Fishing is the main activity and source of income for coastal communities in São Tomé and Príncipe. Santomean fishing is essentially small-scale. Industrial fishing in the Santomean exclusive economic zone (EEZ) takes place by EU and non-EU tuna vessels. The Santomean fishing zone is an attractive zone as it is on the route of migration of highly migratory species from the Atlantic. A total of 37 tuna vessels have taken out fishing licences on average per year over the period 2020 - 2023, 25 of which fly the flag of an EU Member State.

Payments

The fisheries sector in São Tomé and Príncipe faces challenges in governance, resource management, and sectoral support utilisation under the FPA with the European Union. For example, there are problems regarding compliance and reporting obligations under ICCAT or regarding the employment of São Toméan seamen and observers on EU vessels. Economic benefits are limited for São Tomé and Príncipe since the EU fleet relies on ports in neighbouring countries for landing and processing catches.

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The new Protocol

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The Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community entered into force on 29 August 2011 and has since been tacitly renewed.

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The previous five-year Protocol on the implementation of the FPA started to apply on 19 December 2019 and expired on 18 December 2024.

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Based on Council Decision of 10 September 2024 authorising the opening of negotiations on behalf of the European Union on a new implementing protocol to the FPA with São Tomé and Príncipe, the Commission conducted negotiations with the government of São Tomé and Príncipe, which led to the new Protocol 2025-2029.

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The new Protocol was initialled by the negotiators on 9 April 2025 and signed by the parties on 6 October 2025.

EUR million (to three decimal places)

The new Protocol covers a period of four years from the date of its provisional application, i.e. the date on which it was signed by the parties (6 October 2025).

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;

The Protocol will enter into force once ratification will have been completed by both parties.

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

On the European side, this requires the consent of the European Parliament.

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;

The new Protocol provides fishing opportunities for Union vessels in São Tomé and Príncipe waters, based on best scientific advice and following the recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). This Protocol aims at providing un updated framework, notably by taking into account the priorities of the reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and international standards.

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;

Fishing opportunities

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;

The new Protocol allows European vessels to fish around 6,500 tonnes of tuna and other migratory species per year in the waters of São Tomé and Príncipe, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of ICCAT and within the limits set by the legislation of São Tomé and Príncipe.

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

The Protocol provides fishing opportunities for 26 tuna seiners (15 for Spain, 11 for France) and 9 surface longliners (7 for Spain and 2 for Portugal).

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;

Financial contribution

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;

The EU’s annual financial contribution amounts to €825,000, which includes €325,000 for access to fisheries resources (corresponding to a reference tonnage of 6,500 tonnes per year for highly migratory species) and €500,000 to strengthen São Tomé and Príncipe’s capacity in terms of sustainable fisheries management, control and surveillance, as well as support for small-scale fishing and local communities.

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.

Conclusion

The new Protocol enhances cooperation between the EU and São Tomé and Príncipe, and it promotes the development of sustainable fisheries policy.

From the perspective of the EU, the new Protocol secures continued access to fishing areas for the EU fleet, as the current Agreement contains a clause excluding fishing activity not taking place in the framework defined by a protocol, predominantly benefiting Spanish, French and Portuguese operators.

From the perspective of São Tomé and Príncipe, the sectoral support available will help the country in the context of its national fisheries strategy, including the fight against IUU fishing, while promoting decent working conditions for fishing activities.

It follows that this Protocol is in the interest of both Parties.

ANNEX: DECLARATION OF INPUT

The rapporteur declares under her exclusive responsibility that she did not include in her report 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.