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 a new Implementing Protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire
Date: 2024-01-30
Institutions: Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Commission
Subjects: Côte d'Ivoire, agreement (EU), catch quota, financial compensation of an agreement, fishing agreement, fishing area, fishing rights, interim agreement (EU), protocol to an agreement, sea fishing

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   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 30.1.2024  SWD(2024) 25 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 a new Implementing Protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire                       {COM(2024) 48 final} - {SWD(2024) 22 final}  
 
 
In the framework of the external dimension of the EU's Common Fishery Policy (CFP)1, the 
Commission negotiates and implements the implementing protocols to Sustainable  Fisheries 
Partnership Agreements (SFPAs) with third countries. The SFPAs create a legal, environmental 
economic and social governance framework for fishing activities carried out by Union fishing 
vessels in third country waters. In exchange, the EU provides a partner country with financial 
compensation for access to its waters and financial assistance to implement a national strategy 
for fisheries and blue economy. The EU contribution is complemented by fees payable by EU 
vessel owners. 
According  to  Article  31(10)  of  the  CFP  Basic  Regulation1,  the  European  Commission  shall 
arrange for independent ex-ante and ex-post evaluations for each implementing protocol to a 
SFPA, before it submits to the Council of the EU a recommendation to authorise the opening 
of negotiations for a successor protocol.  

This Staff Working Document (SWD) makes an ex-ante and an ex-post evaluation covering the 
application of the current implementing Protocol (hereinafter, the implementing Protocol) of 
the  Fisheries  Partnership  Agreement  concluded  between  the  EU  and  the  Republic  of  Côte 
d’Ivoire  (hereinafter,  the  Agreement).  These  evaluations  are  primarily  informed  by  an 
independent evaluation study conducted by an external consultant2. 

The ex-post evaluation covers most (up to June 2023) of the period of application of the current 
implementing Protocol of the Agreement, applying from the 1st August 2019 to 31 July 2024. 
It provides an overall assessment of the implementing Protocol, drawing conclusions in terms 
of  its  effectiveness,  efficiency,  relevance,  coherence,  acceptance,  EU  added  value  of  the 
intervention. The detailed evaluation questions corresponding to these evaluation criteria can 
be found in Annex III and further addressed in section 4.  

The ex-ante evaluation analyses the relevant objectives for the Agreement and its implementing 
protocol, considering the current and future needs for this intervention. It considers the lessons 
learned from previous implementing protocols and the results of the ex-post evaluation of the 
current  implementing  Protocol.  Finally,  it  considers  and  draws  conclusions  on  the  possible 
impacts from the following two policy options: 

•  A negotiation of a new implementing Protocol for the Agreement;  

•  No negotiation of an implementing protocol for the Agreement.  

The  ex-ante  evaluation  identifies  the  following  preferred  policy  option:  the  negotiation  of  a  new 
implementing protocol for the Agreement, with some adjustments. In terms of the access and technical 
component, these adjustments would aim to ensure greater information sharing on the effective use of 
the fishing opportunities and dialogue on social conditions for Ivorians seafarers. In terms of the sectoral 
support  component,  adjustments  should  be sougth to  enable  parties  effectively implementing  agreed 
priorities, in line with the National  Development Policy for Livestock, Fisheries and Aquaculture of 
Côte  d’Ivoire.  It  should  in  particular  ensure  continued  cooperation  on  ocean  governance,  fisheries 

1 Regulation (EU) 1380/2013 of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy (OJ L354, 28.12.2013, p. 
22) 
2 Étude d'évaluation rétrospective et prospective du protocole à l'accord de partenariat dans le secteur de la pêche 

entre l'Union européenne et la République de Côte d’Ivoire (2023) 

1 

 
 
 
 
science, monitoring and control, the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU fishing).  The 
implementation pace should be improved, through an improved planning and programme definition. 

2