On the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Protocol on the implementation of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the Cook Islands (2025-2032)

PA_Legapp

SHORT JUSTIFICATION

A first Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) between the European Union and the Cook Islands was concluded in 2016 and initially applied for eight years from October 2016, and then tacitly renewed in 2024 for the next eight years until 8 December 2032.

Negotiations for a new Protocol which is needed for the implementation of the Agreement were concluded in June 2025. The new Protocol, with a validity of seven years, was signed on 9 December 2025 and has been provisionally applied since. It will formally enter into force once the ratification process by both parties has been completed, which for the EU requires the consent of the European Parliament.

The Cook Islands is a Pacific Small Island Developing State (PSIDS), with a population of only 17 000, and one of the Pacific's lowest poverty incidences at 0.2% of the population living below the Food Poverty Line, and 8.4% below the Basic Needs Poverty Line.

The islands' economy relies heavily on tourism and was therefore severely contracting during the COVID pandemic but has rebound and was projected to grow by 10.4% in 2025 and 2.5% in 2026, driven by the recovery of the tourism sector.

The fisheries sector is also central to the Cook Islands’ economy and a vital source of livelihood for island communities, notably through coastal fisheries and offshore tuna fisheries. Fish is an important part of diets, with reported annual per capita fish consumption of 60 kg (the global average is around 20 kg; within the EU fish consumption is highest in Portugal with circa 53 kg). The country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is vast with around 1.83 million km². It is noteworthy, that like all other tuna purse seiners active in the area, EU purse seiners do not call or tranship in ports in Cook Islands and do not sell part of their catch on the local market.

The SFPA, together with the Protocol, grants fishing opportunities to EU vessels in the Cook Islands’ fishing areas for 40 fishing days per year in exchange for financial compensation. The Protocol regulates conditions for EU vessels’ fishing activities, vessel licensing and fees and ensures compliance with national and international obligations, including working conditions established by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

With a total financial commitment of EUR 3.22 million over seven years (EUR 460 000 annually) the Agreement is very modest in scale compared to others. Of the annual amount, EUR 295 000 is allocated to support the Cook Islands’ national strategy for sustainable fisheries, contributing to good ocean governance and the promotion of responsible and sustainable fishing, while EUR 165 000 is paid annually for access to the Cook Islands’ fishing areas. EU vessel operators also pay additional fees.

During the period of the Protocol, the European Union and the Cook Islands are expected to cooperate in monitoring EU vessels, exchanging relevant information, and promoting responsible fisheries management within relevant regional and international organisations. Cooperation may also extend to fisheries management, market access, and monitoring, control and surveillance activities.

A sectoral support programme is established, the main objective of which is to promote and implement responsible fishing in the Cook Islands’ fishing waters, ensuring the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources while strengthening the contribution of the fisheries sector to food security, employment creation and economic development. The sectoral support component supports the Cook Islands’ national sustainable development agenda and represents an additional and complementary contribution to the domestic operational budget allocated to the Cook Islands’ Ministry of Marine Resources.

The evaluation of the previous protocol however noted that implementation of the sectoral support programme foreseen for the 2021-2024 period 'had been substantially delayed, which was attributed to travel restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic which isolated the country from the rest of the world for almost 2.5 years, and persistent difficulties for the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) to retain adequate levels of staff'.

For these reasons, the rapporteur recommends that the European Parliament gives its consent to the new Protocol, but that the Committee on Fisheries invites the Commission to work towards enhanced local capacity, and to provide timely updates on the implementation of the sectoral support programme, in order to ensure balanced outcomes and mutual benefits.

*******

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 Cook Islands and the European Union (2025–2032).

ANNEX: DECLARATION OF INPUT

The rapporteur for opinion declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not include in his 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.