On the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Implementing Protocol (2024-2029) to the Fisheries… Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau

The Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau entered into force on 15 April 2008, being tacitly renewable. The previous 5-year Protocol to the FPA entered into force on 15 June 2019 and expired on 14 June 2024.

With a view to adopt a new Protocol to the FPA, the European Commission conducted negotiations with the Republic of Guinea-Bissau. Following these negotiations, a new Protocol was initialled on 16 May 2024. This new Protocol covers a period of five years, allowing Union vessels to access Guinea-Bissau’s fishing zone and to fish for demersal species (crustaceans, cephalopods and fish), small pelagic species, and tuna and associated species there.

The aim of the Protocol is to provide an updated framework that takes into account the priorities of the common fisheries policy and the external dimension, in accordance with scientific advice and the recommendations of the Joint Scientific Committee and the relevant regional fisheries management organisations. It intends to enhance cooperation between the EU and Guinea-Bissau by implementing a partnership framework within which to develop a sustainable fisheries policy and the responsible exploitation of fishery resources in the waters of the Guinea-Bissau, in the interest of both Parties.

The EU’s financial contribution allocated to the Protocol is EUR 17 000 000 per year. This total is broken down into an annual amount of EUR 12 500 000 for access to fishery resources and another EUR 4 500 000 for the development of Guinea-Bissau’s sectoral fisheries policy, which represents an increase for sectoral support in comparison with the previous protocol.

Guinea-Bissau suffers from chronic malnutrition that is affecting over a quarter of its 1.9 million population, and fisheries offer an important way for the country to fight this. Stretching over 200 nautical miles from its coastline, it encompasses some of West Africa’s most abundant fishing grounds. Small-scale fishing provides over 35% of citizens’ animal protein intake and employs more than 255,000 people. However, threats to the blue economy such as illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing damage the economic and nutritional potential of the fisheries. Furthermore, the weak systems for monitoring, prevalence of corruption, and lack of finances, causes lack of fishing supervision and an inability to effectively manage fish populations.

Your rapporteur takes the view that the Protocol has the potential to promote the responsible and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources and the development of the national fisheries policy in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau and is in the interest of both Parties. The rapporteur also emphasises the need of stepping up the control and surveillance of fishing activities in order to more effectively tackle illegal fishing. For this reason, your rapporteur is proposing that the protocol be approved.

*******

The Committee on Development calls on the Committee on Fisheries, as the committee responsible, to recommend approval of the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Implementing Protocol (2024-2029) to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.