PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union, the Protocol (2024-2029) implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

BACKGROUND: the Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau entered into force on 15 April 2008. It is tacitly renewable and is therefore still in force. The previous 5-year Implementing Protocol to the Agreement entered into force on 15 June 2019 and expired on 14 June 2024.

On 14 February 2024, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations for a new Protocol to the FPA.

The Commission conducted negotiations with Guinea-Bissau on concluding a new Implementing Protocol to the Agreement. The objective is to allow Union vessels to access the fishing zone of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau and to fish for demersal species (crustaceans, cephalopods and fish), small pelagic species, and tuna and associated species there. Following these negotiations, a new text of the Implementing Protocol was initialled on 16 May 2024.

The new Protocol covers a period of 5 years from the date of provisional application.

CONTENT: the purpose of this proposal is to conclude the new Protocol (2024-2029) implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.

The main aim of the new Protocol to the Agreement is to provide an updated framework that takes into account the priorities of the common fisheries policy (CFP) and the external dimension. This will help maintain and strengthen the strategic partnership between the European Union and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.

Another objective is to enhance cooperation between the Union and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau by implementing the partnership framework for the Agreement in order to promote a sustainable fisheries policy and the responsible exploitation of fishery resources in the waters of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, in the interest of both Parties.

Fishing opportunities

The new Protocol provides for the following fishing opportunities:

- freezer fin-fish and cephalopod trawlers: 3 500 GRT per year;

- freezer shrimp trawlers: 3 700 GRT per year;

- small-pelagic trawlers: 0 tonnes per year;

- 28 freezer tuna seiners and longliners:

- 13 pole-and-line tuna vessels;

in addition to support vessels in accordance with the relevant ICCAT resolutions.

Financial contribution

The financial contribution under the new Protocol is set at EUR 17 000 000 per year , based on:

- an annual amount of EUR 12 500 000 for access to fishery resources in the fishing zone of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau; and

- a specific amount of EUR 4 500 000 per year in support of the sectoral policy of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.

This support meets the objectives of cooperation in the fields of sustainable exploitation of fishery resources, aquaculture, sustainable development of the oceans, protection of the marine environment, and the blue economy.

The annual amount for commitment and payment appropriations is established during the annual budgetary procedure, including for the reserve line for protocols not yet having entered into force at the beginning of the year.