Council Decision (EU) 2025/961 of 12 May 2025 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (2024–2029)

What it is

to conclude, on behalf of the European Union, the Protocol (2024-2029) implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau. ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act. BACKGROUND: the Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau entered into force on 15 April 2008. It is tacitly renewable and is therefore still in force. The previous 5-year Implementing Protocol to the Agreement entered into force on 15 June 2019 and expired on 14 June 2024. On 14 February 2024, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations for a new Protocol to the FPA. BACKGROUND: the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (2024–2029) signed, subject to its conclusion at a later date, should now be approved. CONTENT: the draft Council decision concerns the approval, on behalf of the European Union, of the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (2024–2029). The objectives of the Protocol are to enable Union vessels to fish in Guinea-Bissau’s fishing zone and to enable the Union and Guinea-Bissau to work closely together to further promote the development of a sustainable fisheries policy and the responsible exploitation of fishery resources in Guinea-Bissau’s fishing zone. That cooperation will also contribute to decent working conditions in the fisheries sector. The Joint Committee responsible for monitoring the application of the Agreement and the Protocol will have the power to approve certain amendments to the Protocol. The Commission will be empowered, subject to substantive and procedural conditions, to approve them on behalf of the Union under a simplified procedure. The Union’s position on proposed amendments to the Protocol should be established by the Council. The proposed amendments should be approved unless a blocking minority of Member States objects to them. The European Parliament adopted by 518 votes to 104, with 61 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (2024–2029). Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement. The current Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (2024-2029) was applied provisionally from the date of signature, i.e. 18 September 2024. This fisheries agreement allows vessels from a number of EU Member States to fish in Guinea-Bissau waters. The Protocol provides for fishing opportunities in the following categories: freezer shrimp trawlers; freezer fin-fish and cephalopod trawlers; small pelagic trawlers; tuna freezer vessels and longliners; pole-and-line tuna vessels. The Agreement is multi-species and covers tuna,…

Frequently asked

In scope for these industries