COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE EVALUATION Accompanying the document Recommendation for a COUNCIL DECISION authorising the opening of negotiations with Madagascar for the conclusion of a Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement and a Protocol between the European Communities and Madagascar
Date: 2018-04-25
Institutions: Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Commission
Subjects: European Commission, Madagascar, catch quota, fishing agreement, fishing rights, negotiation of an agreement (EU), powers of the institutions (EU), protocol to an agreement, sea fishing, sustainable fisheries

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   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 25.4.2018 SWD(2018) 144 final  COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE EVALUATION Accompanying the document Recommendation for a  COUNCIL DECISION  authorising the opening of negotiations with Madagascar for the conclusion of a Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement and a Protocol  between the European Communities and Madagascar {COM(2018) 240 final} - {SWD(2018) 143 final}  
 
 
Sustainable  Fisheries  Agreements  (SFPA)  concluded  between  the  European  Union  and  third 
countries  help  to  promote  the  objectives  of  the  CFP  internationally,  particularly  to  promote 
sustainable fishing.1 

The Council conclusions on the external dimension (CFP) adopted on 19 March 2012, stipulate 
that an ex-post and ex-ante evaluation is carried out by the Commission before the negotiation 
of a new protocol.2 

This staff working document (SWD) is built on the results of an external ex-post evaluation and 
ex-ante evaluation3 of the current Protocol (2015-2018) between the European Union and the 
Madagascar, which expires on 31 December 2018.4 

The current Protocol provides access to a maximum of 94 tuna vessels from the EU in return 
for an annual financial contribution of EUR 866 250 – 787 500. 

On  the  basis  of  the  evaluation  criteria  (effectiveness,  efficiency,  economy,  coherence, 
relevance,  EU  added  value  and  acceptability)  analysed  in  section  5  of  the  staff  working 
document, it can be concluded that this deal is very important for the EU and its fleet, as well 
as  for  Madagascar.  It  promotes  the  objectives  of  the  CFP  and  to  the  development  of  the 
fisheries sector of Madagascar. 

The  Protocol  is  assessed  as  a  relevant  and  efficient  EU  financial  contribution  commensurate 
with the fishing opportunities used. The Protocol is consistent with other EU interventions that 
are themselves in synergy with other donors. The added value of this Agreement allows the EU 
to establish a management and control framework of its fleets, consistent with the framework 
negotiated under other tuna agreements, while creating a platform of sectoral dialogue between 
the EU and Madagascar with a view to establishing sustainable fisheries. 

However,  a  number  of  issues/points  have  been  identified,  the  evaluation  also  makes  some 
recommendations  on  fishing  opportunities,  the  embarkation  of  seamen,  monitoring  and 
surveillance capabilities, sanitary issues, the communication strategy and a possible support for 
maritime  Blue  Growth/Ocean  Governance  policy  of  Madagascar  (currently  in  a  definition 
phase). 

In conclusion, the Commission supports the conclusions of the evaluation study and considers 
that the renewal of the Protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement should be the preferred 
option. It also considers that the recommendations presented are relevant and should also take 
into account the operational constraints of the fleet and the regional context. Finally, considers 
it  appropriate  to  explore  ways  to  increase  the  impact  of  Protocol  on  the  local  economy 
(employment  and  value-added  creation)  and  may  also  consider  the  option  of  supporting  blue 
growth. 

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Overview of SFPA: http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/cfp/international/agreements_fr 
Doc. 7086/12 PECHE 66. 
Evaluation study:  
Council Decision No (2014/929/UE) of  15 December 2014, JO L 365, 19.12.2014, p.6 (signature and provisional application); and   
Council Decision No (EU) 2015/1893 of 5 October 2015, JO L  277, 22.10.2015, p.1 (conclusion). 

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