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RECOMMENDATION (07374/2025 – C100114/2025 – 2025/0046(NLE))

On the draft 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 Republic of Côte d’Ivoire and the European Community

A-10-2025-0159

Committee on Fisheries · Rapporteur: Ton Diepeveen

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Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

Parliament gives its consent to the conclusion of the Protocol (2025–2029) implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the EU and Côte d’Ivoire, which sets fishing opportunities and EU financial contributions. The Protocol provides an annual EU contribution of €740,000, split between access rights (€305,000) and sectoral support (€435,000), and authorizes 25 tuna purse seiners and 7 surface longliners with a catch limit of 6,100 tonnes of tuna per year. Sectoral support aims to develop Côte d’Ivoire’s fisheries infrastructure, governance, scientific expertise, and address illegal fishing, with allocations decided by a Joint Committee. The Committee on Budgets advises approval but calls for better scrutiny, impact assessments for future agreements, and regrets the disconnect between budgetary decisions and Parliament’s consent.

Committee position. The Committee on Fisheries recommends that Parliament give its consent to the conclusion of the Protocol, as reflected in the draft resolution.

Key points

  1. Parliament consents to the conclusion of the Protocol (2025–2029) on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the EU and Côte d’Ivoire.
  2. The Protocol sets an annual EU contribution of €740,000: €305,000 for access rights and €435,000 for sectoral support.
  3. Operators pay €80 per tonne of catch in the first two years and €85 per tonne in the final two years.
  4. The Protocol authorizes 25 tuna purse seiners and 7 surface longliners to fish in Côte d’Ivoire’s Exclusive Economic Zone, with an annual reference catch limit of 6,100 tonnes of tuna.
  5. The Protocol aims to ensure responsible exploitation of tuna stocks in line with ICCAT regulations and regional fisheries management obligations.
  6. Sectoral support is earmarked for developing Côte d’Ivoire’s fisheries infrastructure, governance, scientific expertise, small-scale fishing, aquaculture, and community training.
  7. Fund allocation decisions are approved by a Joint Committee, with a portion dedicated to addressing illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
  8. The Committee on Budgets advises approval but stresses the need for thorough scrutiny to ensure support meets objectives of sustainable fisheries and decent working conditions.
  9. The Committee on Budgets recommends that future agreements include an impact assessment of added value and socio-economic benefits from previous agreements.
  10. The Committee on Budgets regrets that the budgetary decision is disconnected from Parliament’s consent decision, risking a fait accompli, and requests the Commission to avoid this in future.
  11. The Committee on Budgets calls on the Commission to explain the need for provisional application of the Protocol.
  12. The Committee on Budgets stresses that financial programming for line 08 05 01 must be sufficient for 2026-2027 obligations and calls for scrutiny in annual budgets.

Who is affected

  • EU fishing operators, mainly Spanish, Portuguese and French, gain continued access to Côte d’Ivoire’s fishing zone.
  • Côte d’Ivoire receives financial support for fisheries development and governance, benefiting local communities through job creation and improved infrastructure.

Figures and deadlines

  • Annual EU contribution of €740,000, with €305,000 for access rights and €435,000 for sectoral support.
  • Operator fees: €80 per tonne of catch in the first two years, rising to €85 per tonne in the final two years.
  • Authorized vessels: 25 tuna purse seiners and 7 surface longliners.
  • Annual reference catch limit of 6,100 tonnes of tuna.
  • Total financial contribution for the four-year Protocol is EUR 2,960,000.
  • Access rights amount to EUR 1,220,000 for the duration, and sectoral support to EUR 1,740,000.

Legal basis: Article 43(2) and Article 218(6), second subparagraph, point (a)(v), of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union