On Friday 30 August, the European Commission adopted formal proposals on the new modalities of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community.
A new Protocol was initialled on 17 April 2019. The Protocol covers a period of five years from the date of its provisional application, i.e. from the date of its signature.
The Protocol provides for fishing opportunities in the following categories: 28 freezer tuna seiners (16 for Spain and 12 for France) and 6 surface longliners (5 for Spain and one licence for Portugal).
The EU's annual financial contribution amounts to €840,000, based on: - a reference tonnage of 8,000 tonnes per year, for which an access related amount has been fixed at €400 000 per year for the duration of the Protocol; - support for the development of São Tomé and Príncipe's sectoral fisheries policy for an amount of €440 000 per year for the duration of the Protocol.
The last Protocol to the Fisheries Agreement between the two parties, which entered into force on 23 May 2014, expired on 22 May 2018 (see EUROPE 11229/5). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)