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 on a new implementing protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, and possible amendments to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement or a new text of a Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement
Date: 2024-07-12
Institutions: Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Commission
Subjects: São Tomé and Príncipe, agreement (EU), catch quota, financial compensation of an agreement, fishing agreement, fishing area, fishing rights, interim agreement (EU), protocol to an agreement, sea fishing

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 12.7.2024  SWD(2024) 178 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 on a new implementing protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, and possible amendments to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement or a new text of a Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement                                          {COM(2024) 295 final} - {SWD(2024) 177 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 (the implementing Protocol) of the Fisheries 
Partnership Agreement concluded between the EU and the Democratic Republic of São Tomé 
and  Príncipe  (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 December 2023) of the period of application of the 
current implementing Protocol, applying from 1 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  two  main  policy  options:  the  negotiation  or  non-negotiation  of  a  new 
implementing Protocol.  

The  ex-ante  evaluation  identifies  as  the  preferred  policy  option  the  negotiation  of  a  new 
implementing protocol for the Agreement, with some adjustments: 

•  Concerning 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 seafarers.  

•  On  the  sectoral  support  component,  adjustments  should  be  sought  to  enable  parties  to 
effectively implement agreed priorities, in line with the National Development Policy of 
São Tomé et Príncipe. 
It should ensure continued cooperation on ocean governance, fisheries science, monitoring 
and control, the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.   

• 

1 Regulation (EU) 1380/2013 of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy (OJ L354, 28.12.2013, p. 
22) 
2 https://op.europa.eu/fr/publication-detail/-/publication/55fcd1d2-132e-11ef-a251-01aa75ed71a1  

1 

 
 
 
 
 
•  The  implementation  pace  should  be  improved,  through  an  improved  planning  and 

programme definition. 

2