52025SC0252

The Commission is responsible for negotiating implementing protocols to sustainable fisheries partnership agreements (SFPAs) with non-EU countries, and for implementing them, as part of the external dimension of the EU’s common fisheries policy (CFP) 1 . SFPAs create a legal, environmental, economic and social governance framework for fishing activities carried out by EU fishing vessels in non-EU waters. In return, the EU pays financial compensation to the partner country for access to its waters and provides financial support for its implementation of a national strategy on fisheries and the blue economy. The EU contribution is supplemented by fees payable by EU vessel owners.

Before submitting a recommendation to the Council asking it to authorise the opening of negotiations for a new protocol to a sustainable fisheries partnership agreement, the Commission ensures that independent ex ante and ex post evaluations are carried out in accordance with Article 31(10) of the CFP Basic Regulation1.

This staff working document is an ex post evaluation of the current implementing protocol (‘the implementing protocol’) to the fisheries partnership agreement between the European Union and the Gabonese Republic (‘the Agreement’) and an ex ante evaluation of any future agreement, mainly based on an independent evaluation carried out by an external consultant 2 . The external consultant carried out extensive stakeholder consultations both in the EU and in Gabon. Throughout the evaluation process, the consultant interacted with EU and Gabonese authorities to collect their views on the implementation of the 2021-2026 protocol and how they would like the partnership to develop.

The period of application of the current implementing protocol is from 29 June 2019 to 28 June 2026, and the ex post evaluation covers most of that period (up to April 2025). It provides an overall assessment of the implementing protocol, drawing conclusions on its effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, coherence and acceptance and the EU added value of the intervention. The precise questions used in the evaluation, based on these criteria, are set out in Annex III and further details are provided in Section 4.

The ex ante evaluation analyses the relevant objectives of the agreement and the implementing protocol, taking into account the current and future needs of the intervention. It examines the lessons learned from previous implementing protocols and the results of the ex post evaluation of the current protocol. Lastly, the evaluation considers and draws conclusions on the possible impacts of the two main policy options available: negotiating or not negotiating a new implementing protocol.

The ex ante evaluation favours the option of negotiating a new sustainable fisheries partnership agreement and an implementing protocol thereto with some adjustments:

·Any negotiation on renewing the current protocol should be accompanied by the negotiation of an SFPA to replace the fisheries partnership agreement concluded in 2007, i.e. before the CFP reform. Concluding an SFPA will bring the fisheries agreement with Gabon into line with current CFP requirements, in particular in terms of sustainability and a governance framework.

·As regards access to resources, adjustments should be made to the reference tonnage to reflect the EU fleet’s current and past catches and its prospective future catches.

·The option of the future protocol including a new category of commercial fishing targeting deep-sea crustaceans should be considered if the available scientific advice and other relevant information are in favour.

·The sectoral support included in the protocol should be adjusted to enable the parties to effectively implement the agreed priorities in line with Gabon’s national development policy.

·This should ensure continued cooperation on ocean governance, fisheries science, fisheries monitoring and control and the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

·A faster pace of implementation should be sought through improved planning and better programme definition.

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