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 Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Government of the Cook Islands
Date: 2024-08-29
Institutions: Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Commission
Subjects: Cook Islands, catch area, fishing agreement, fishing rights, interim agreement (EU), negotiation of an agreement (EU), protocol to an agreement, ratification of an agreement, sea fishing, sustainable fisheries

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   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 29.8.2024  SWD(2024) 211 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 Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Government of the Cook Islands        {COM(2024) 389 final} - {SWD(2024) 209 final}  
 
 
Under the external dimension of the EU’s common fisheries 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 the 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  must 
arrange for independent ex ante and ex post evaluations for each implementing protocol to an 
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 SFPA concluded between the EU and the Government of the Cook Islands (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  March  2024)  of  the  period  of  application  of  the 
current  implementing  Protocol  of  the  Agreement,  applying  from  17  December  2021  to 
16 December 2024. It provides an overall assessment of the implementing Protocol, drawing 
conclusions  as  to  its  effectiveness,  efficiency,  relevance,  coherence,  and  acceptance.  It  also 
draws conclusions on the EU added value of the intervention.  

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. On the access and technical 
component, these adjustments would aim to ensure, as far as possible, a certain balance between 
the fishing possibilities available and their effective use. On the sectoral-support component, 
adjustments should be sought to enable parties  to effectively implement agreed priorities, in 
line with the national policies of the Cook Islands. It should ensure continued cooperation on: 
(i)  ocean  governance;  (ii)  fisheries  science;  (iii)  monitoring  and  control;  and  (iv)  the  fight 
against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU fishing).  The implementation pace should be 

1 Regulation (EU) 1380/2013 of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy (OJ L354, 28.12.2013, p. 
22) 
2 Ex post and ex ante evaluation study of the Protocol to the Agreement on a Sustainable Fisheries Partnership 
between the European Union and the Cook Islands. 

1 

 
 
 
 
improved, by improving the part of the Agreement that deals  with  planning and programme 
design. 

2