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DRAFT BUDGETARY ASSESSMENT (09200/2026 – C100195/2026 – 2026/0107(NLE))

On the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Protocol on the implementation of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Seychelles (2026-2030)

BUDG-PA-797433

Committee on Budgets · Rapporteur: Céline Imart

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The Committee on Budgets gives a budgetary assessment of the draft Council decision concluding the 2026-2030 Protocol to the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement with Seychelles. It advises the Committee on Fisheries to recommend approval. The annual financial contribution is EUR 5 750 000: EUR 2 750 000 for access at a reference tonnage of 55 000 tonnes per year and EUR 3 000 000 in sectoral support. The Commission estimates EUR 23 million in commitments and payments over four years on budget line 08 05 01, split between access payments and sectoral support. The committee regrets that the transfer decision came before Parliament's consent decision, urges the Commission to avoid this in future, and asks for impact assessments of previous agreements and clearer budget breakdowns.

Committee position. The Committee on Budgets advises the Committee on Fisheries to recommend approval of the draft Council decision concluding the Protocol. It also asks for impact assessments of previous agreements, detailed reporting on the two components and a breakdown of budget line amounts by agreement.

Key points

  1. The previous six-year Protocol with Seychelles expired on 23 February 2026.
  2. The new Protocol runs four years, with an annual contribution of EUR 5 750 000: EUR 2 750 000 for access at 55 000 tonnes per year and EUR 3 000 000 for sectoral support.
  3. On 15 July 2026 Parliament approved DEC 10/2026, making available the appropriations on operational line 08 05 01 for the 2026 obligations under the new Protocol.
  4. The new Protocol was signed and entered into provisional application on 27 July 2026.
  5. The committee says sectoral support should enable Union vessels to fish in Seychelles' zone, promote sustainable fisheries, strengthen cooperation on Seychelles' fisheries policy and ocean governance, and support work in the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC).
  6. It links the support to the principles of the Samoa Agreement, including democratic principles, human rights and the EU's presence in the region.
  7. It notes the Commission's estimate of EUR 23 million in commitments and EUR 23 million in payments over four years, with EUR 11 million for access and EUR 12 million for sectoral support, and asks for detailed annual reporting on both components.
  8. It notes that the transfer of EUR 5 750 000 in commitments and EUR 2 750 000 in payments was approved within the Financial Regulation deadline.
  9. It regrets that the budgetary decision had to be taken before Parliament's consent decision, says the two are inextricably linked, and urges the Commission to prevent this in future.
  10. It recommends that future agreements take account of an impact assessment of the added value and socio-economic benefits of the previous agreement.
  11. It regrets that the 2026 budget amounts on line 08 05 01 and reserve line 30 02 02 are cumulative and not broken down by fisheries agreement, which hampers scrutiny.
  12. It concludes that the Committee on Budgets can advise the Committee on Fisheries to recommend approval of the draft Council decision.

Who is affected

  • Seychelles: receives the financial contribution and sectoral support under the Protocol.
  • Union vessels: gain access to fish in Seychelles' fishing zone at a reference tonnage of 55 000 tonnes per year.
  • The Commission: asked to report in detail on commitments and payments and to avoid budgetary decisions preceding consent in future.
  • Parliament: should receive sufficiently detailed information on the two components during the annual budgetary procedure.

Figures and deadlines

  • 23 February 2026: expiry of the previous six-year Protocol.
  • EUR 5 750 000: annual financial contribution under the new Protocol.
  • EUR 2 750 000: annual amount for access, equivalent to 55 000 tonnes per year.
  • EUR 3 000 000: annual sectoral support amount.
  • 15 July 2026: Parliament approved DEC 10/2026.
  • 27 July 2026: the new Protocol was signed and entered into provisional application.
  • EUR 23 million in commitments and EUR 23 million in payments over four years; EUR 11 million for access and EUR 12 million for sectoral support.
  • EUR 5 750 000 in commitments and EUR 2 750 000 in payments transferred under DEC 10/2026.