Europaudvalget 2025
KOM (2025) 0269
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EUROPEAN
COMMISSION
Brussels, 4.6.2025
SWD(2025) 137 final
COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE EVALUATION
on the implementing Protocol of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement
between the European Union and Seychelles
Accompanying the document
Recommendation for a
COUNCIL DECISION
authorising the opening of the negotiations on behalf of the European Union for the
conclusion of an Implementing Protocol to the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership
Agreement between the European Union and Seychelles
{COM(2025) 269 final} - {SWD(2025) 136 final}
EN
EN
 kom (2025) 0269 - Ingen titel
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As part of the external dimension of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy
1
(CFP), the Commission
negotiates and implements protocols for implementing Sustainable Fisheries Partnership
Agreements (SFPAs) with third countries.
SFPAs create a legal, environmental, economic, and social governance framework for fishing
activities carried out by EU fishing vessels in third-country waters. In return, the EU provides a
partner country with financial compensation for access to its waters and financial support for the
implementation of a national strategy on fisheries and the blue economy.
The EU's contribution is supplemented by fees payable by EU vessel owners. In accordance with
Article 31(10) of the CFP Basic Regulation, the European Commission shall ensure that
independent ex-ante and ex-post evaluations are carried out for each protocol to a sustainable
fisheries partnership agreement, before submitting a recommendation to the Council to authorise
the opening of negotiations for a new protocol.
This Working Document (SWD) provides an ex-ante and ex-post evaluation of the application of
the latest Implementing Protocol (hereinafter referred to as the “Implementing Protocol”) to the
Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the EU and Seychelles (hereinafter referred
to as the “Agreement”). These evaluations are mainly based on an independent evaluation study
carried out by an external consultant
2
.
The ex-post evaluation covers most of the period of application of the Implementing Protocol to
the Agreement, which runs from February 2020 to February 2026. It provides an overall
assessment of the Implementing Protocol and demonstrates that it has been generally successful in
achieving its main objectives, which include: providing fishing opportunities for EU fishing
vessels in important fishing areas; establish a legal framework for fishing operations based on
principles of economic, financial, technical and scientific cooperation in the fisheries sector with
the aim of ensuring the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fishery resources; and provide
the means for action in Seychelles through capacity building.
The ex-ante evaluation analyses the relevant objectives the Implementing Protocol, taking into
account the current and future needs of this intervention. It examines the lessons learned from
previous Implementing Protocols and the results of the ex-post evaluation of the current
Implementing Protocol. Finally, taking into account these results, it examines and draws
conclusions regarding the possible impacts of the following two options:
• the negotiation of a new Implementing Protocol;
• no negotiation with a view to concluding a new Implementing Protocol.
According to the ex-ante evaluation, the preferred option is the negotiation of a new Implementing
Protocol. As regards access and the technical component, this new protocol would aim to ensure
better alignment between negotiated fishing opportunities and the effective use of these
opportunities in order to increase the effectiveness of EU investments. As regards the sectoral
Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the
Common Fisheries Policy
2
Ex-post and ex-ante evaluation study of the 2020-2026 protocol to the sustainable fisheries partnership agreement
(SFPA) and of a possible Protocol implementing the SFPA between the European Union and Seychelles -
Publications Office of the EU
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 kom (2025) 0269 - Ingen titel
support component, the emphasis would be placed on supporting the implementation of Seychelles
fisheries and aquaculture policies, on strengthening cooperation on monitoring, control and
surveillance and science.