Date: 2025-10-22Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Council Decision (EU) 2025/2139 of 30 September 2025 on the signing, on behalf of the Union, and provisional application of the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community (2025–2029)
**Executive Summary**
This document is a Council Decision (EU) 2025/2139 regarding the signing and provisional application of the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community for the period of 2025-2029. The Council authorized the Commission to open negotiations, which concluded on April 9, 2025. The decision was adopted on September 30, 2025, and shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Agreement Purpose and Background:**
* Authorizes the signing, on behalf of the Union, of the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community (2025-2029).
* The previous protocol expired on December 18, 2024.
* **Protocol Objectives:**
* Allows Union vessels to fish in São Tomé and Príncipe's fishing zone.
* Enables closer collaboration between the Union and São Tomé and Príncipe for developing a sustainable fisheries policy.
* Promotes responsible exploitation of fishery resources in the specified fishing zone and the Atlantic Ocean.
* Aims to help achieve decent working conditions in the fisheries sector.
* **Financial Aspects:**
* Budgetary commitments may be broken down over the Protocol's duration into annual payments, according to Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 Article 112(2).
* **Implementation:**
* The Protocol will be applied provisionally from the date of its signature, pending its entry into force, in accordance with Article 19 of the Protocol.
**Impact Analysis**
**European Union Vessels:**
* **Impact:** Continued access to fishing opportunities within São Tomé and Príncipe's fishing zone.
* **Action Required:** Adhere to the terms and conditions outlined in the Protocol.
**Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe:**
* **Impact:** Enhanced cooperation with the EU in developing a sustainable fisheries policy and potential economic benefits from fishing activities.
* **Action Required:** Collaborate with the EU to ensure responsible exploitation of fishery resources.
**European Commission:**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing and overseeing the Protocol on behalf of the Union.
* **Action Required:** Ensure compliance with the Protocol's provisions.
Key Entities Referenced
Fisheries Partnership Agreement between São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community (2025–2029): An agreement between the EU and São Tomé and Príncipe governing fishing activities, aiming for sustainable fisheries policy and responsible resource exploitation.
Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union.
São Tomé and Príncipe: The Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, a country that is party to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the European Union.
Regulation (EU) 2018/1725: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2025/2139 22.10.2025
COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2025/2139
of 30 September 2025
on the signing, on behalf of the Union, and provisional application of the Protocol on the
implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São
Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community (2025–2029)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 43, in conjunction with
Article 218(5) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1) On 23 July 2007, the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 894/2007 on the conclusion of a Fisheries Partnership
Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community(1) (the
‘Agreement’). The Agreement entered into force on 29 August 2011.
(2) The previous protocol on the implementation of the Agreement expired on 18 December 2024.
(3) On 10 September 2024, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the Democratic Republic
of São Tomé and Príncipe (‘São Tomé and Príncipe’) for a new protocol on the implementation of the Agreement. The
negotiations were successfully concluded by the initialling of the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries
Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community
(2025–2029) (the ‘Protocol’) on 9 April 2025.
(4) The aim of the Protocol is to allow Union vessels to fish in São Tomé and Príncipe’s fishing zone, and to enable the
Union and São Tomé and Príncipe to work together more closely to develop a sustainable fisheries policy, so as to
promote the responsible exploitation of fishery resources in São Tomé and Príncipe’s fishing zone and in the Atlantic
Ocean, and to help achieve decent working conditions in the fisheries sector.
(5) The Protocol should therefore be signed.
(6) In view of the economic importance of Union fishing activity in São Tomé and Príncipe’s fishing zone and the need
to minimise the duration of any interruption of that activity, the Protocol should be applied provisionally.
(7) Since the Protocol lasts for more than one financial year, the budgetary commitments involved may be broken down
over the duration of the Protocol into annual payments, in accordance with Article 112(2) of Regulation (EU,
Euratom) 2024/2509 of the European Parliament and of the Council(2).
(8) The European Data Protection Supervisor was consulted in accordance with Article 42(1) of Regulation (EU)
2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council(3) and delivered an opinion on 16 September 2025,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The signing, on behalf of the Union, of the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between
the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community (2025–2029) (the ‘Protocol’) is hereby
authorised, subject to the conclusion of the said Protocol.
(1) OJ L 205, 7.8.2007, p. 35, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2007/894/oj.
(2) Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 September 2024 on the financial rules
applicable to the general budget of the Union (OJ L, 2024/2509, 26.9.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2509/oj).
(3) Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural
persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free
movement of such data, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 and Decision No 1247/2002/EC (OJ L 295, 21.11.2018, p. 39,
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2018/1725/oj).
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/2139/oj 1/2EN
OJ L, 22.10.2025
Article 2
The Protocol shall be applied on a provisional basis, in accordance with Article 19 thereof, as from the date of its signature,
pending its entry into force.
Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
Done at Brussels, 30 September 2025.
For the Council
The President
M. BØDSKOV
2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/2139/oj