COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE EVALUATION Accompanying the document Recommendation for a Council Decision authorising the opening of negotiations on behalf of the European Union for the conclusion of an Implementing Protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Mauritius
Date: 2021-08-05
Institutions: Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Commission
Subjects: Mauritius, catch area, catch quota, fishing agreement, fishing rights, negotiation of an agreement (EU), protocol to an agreement, ratification of an agreement, sea fish, sea fishing

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  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 5.8.2021  SWD(2021) 222 final  COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT  EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE EVALUATION  Accompanying the document Recommendation for a Council Decision  authorising the opening of  negotiations on behalf of the European Union for the conclusion of an Implementing Protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Mauritius             {COM(2021) 456 final} - {SWD(2021) 221 final}  
 
 
The  19  March  2012  Council  conclusions  on  the  external  dimension  of  the  CFP  call  on  the 
Commission to carry out ex post and ex ante evaluations before negotiating a new protocol to 
an  SFPA1.  This  requirement  is  based  on  Article  31(10)  of  the  CFP  Regulation.  The  aim  of 
such  evaluations  is  to  inform  decision-makers  in  advance  of  the  Council’s  adoption  of 
negotiation directives. The fishing opportunities negotiated under SFPAs are in line with the 
best  available  scientific  advice  and  the  EU  fleet  is  not  in  competition  with  local  artisanal 
fishers. 

The first fisheries agreement between the EU and Mauritius dates back to 1989. The current 
Agreement2,  valid  for  6  years  and  renewable  for  additional  periods  of  3  years,  entered  into 
force  on  28  January  2014.  Under  the  current  4-year  Protocol  (8  December  2017  to 
7 December 2021), EU vessels  are allowed to  fish tuna in  Mauritian waters, with  an  annual 
reference  tonnage  of  4 000 tonnes.  Access  is  given  to  40  purse  seiners  and  45  surface 
longliners. In addition to the fees paid by the EU fleet, the EU pays a financial contribution of 
EUR 220 000  per  year  for  access,  plus  specific  annual  amounts  of  EUR 220 000  for  the 
support  and  implementation  of  Mauritius’  sectoral  fisheries  policy  and  EUR 135 000  to 
support the deployment of maritime policy and ocean economy. 

In  accordance  with  the  ‘better  regulation’  guidelines,  the  staff  working  document  and  its 
executive summary present the results of a retrospective (ex post) evaluation carried out by an 
independent  contractor  and  a  forward-looking  (ex ante)  evaluation  in  view  of  the  possible 
renewal of the Implementing Protocol to the FPA with Mauritius. 

The  contractor  has  fully  addressed  the  evaluation  questions  and  provided  the  Commission 
with  concrete,  reliable  and  credible  results.  It  has  drawn  conclusions  based  on  objective 
analysis and made specific and relevant recommendations for future negotiations. 

Of  all  the  options  considered,  the  renewal  of  the  Protocol  at  the  end  of  its  implementation 
period  (7  December  2021)  emerges  clearly  as  the  preferred  option.  The  current  Protocol 
addresses  effectively  the  identified  needs  of  the  various  stakeholders.  Therefore,  the 
evaluation  recommends  retaining  a  similar  technical  and  financial  approach  in  a  future 
protocol, with some adaptations aimed in particular at improving the technical implementing 
conditions  of its  access  component and the management of sectoral  support.  It  recommends 
reviewing the EU’s financial contribution for sectoral support, in line with the absorption and 
execution capacity of the Mauritian ministry in question. 

In  summary,  the  Commission  generally  supports  the  conclusions  of  the  contractor’s 
assessment. 

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2  

Doc. 7086/12 PECHE 66. 
OJ L 79, 18.3.2014, p. 3. 

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