Council Decision (EU) 2025/2229 of 27 October 2025 on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire and the European Community (2025-2029)

Official Journal EN of the European Union L series 2025/2229 3.11.2025 COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2025/2229 of 27 October 2025 on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire 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(6), point (a)(v), and Article 218(7) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, Having regard to the consent of the European Parliament, Whereas: (1) In accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2025/1194(1), the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire and the European Community (2025-2029) (the ‘Protocol’) was signed on 6 June 2025, subject to its conclusion at a later date. (2) The aim of the Protocol is to allow Union vessels to fish in Côte d’Ivoire’s fishing zone and to enable the Union and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire (‘Côte d’Ivoire’) to work together more closely to develop a sustainable fisheries policy, so as to promote the responsible exploitation of fishery resources in Côte d’Ivoire’s fishing zone and in the Atlantic Ocean, and to help achieve decent working conditions in the fisheries sector. (3) The Protocol should be approved on behalf of the Union. (4) Article 9 of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire and the European Community (the ‘Agreement’) establishes a Joint Committee responsible for monitoring the application of the Agreement and its implementing Protocols. Furthermore, the Joint Committee may approve certain amendments to the implementing protocols. In order to facilitate the approval of amendments to the Protocol, the Commission should be authorised, subject to specific substantive and procedural conditions set out in the Annex to this Decision, to approve them on behalf of the Union under a simplified procedure. (5) The Union’s position on the proposed amendments to the Protocol should be established by the Council. The proposed amendments to the Protocol are approved unless a blocking minority of Member States, in accordance with Article 16(4) of the Treaty on European Union, objects to them. (6) 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(2) and delivered an opinion on 22 April 2025, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 The Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire and the European Community (2025-2029) (the ‘Protocol’) is hereby approved on behalf of the Union. (1) Council Decision (EU) 2025/1194 of 25 April 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 Republic of Côte d’Ivoire and the European Community (2025-2029) (OJ L, 2025/1194, 2.7.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1194/oj). (2) 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/2025/2229/oj 1/3EN OJ L, 3.11.2025 Article 2 In accordance with the provisions and conditions laid down in the Annex to this Decision, the Commission is hereby authorised to approve, on behalf of the Union, the amendments to the Protocol adopted by the Joint Committee established under Article 9 of the Agreement. Article 3 This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption(3). Done at Luxembourg, 27 October 2025. For the Council The President J. JENSEN (3) The date of entry into force of the Protocol will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union by the General Secretariat of the Council. 2/3 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/2229/ojEN OJ L, 3.11.2025 ANNEX Procedure for the approval of amendments to the Protocol to be adopted by the Joint Committee (1) Where the Joint Committee is asked to adopt amendments to the Protocol under Article 16(2) of the Protocol, the Commission is authorised to negotiate with the government of Côte d’Ivoire and, where appropriate and subject to compliance with point 3 of this Annex, agree, on behalf of the Union, on modifications to the Protocol in respect of the following issues: (a) the review of fishing opportunities under Article 7(1) and Article 8(1) of the Protocol and, consequently, the financial contribution provided for in Article 8(2)(a) of the Protocol; (b) the implementing arrangements of the sectoral support referred to in Article 9 of the Protocol; (c) the technical conditions and arrangements under which Union vessels carry out their fishing activities; (d) the additional safeguards for the protection of personal data provided for in Article 15(4) of the Protocol; (e) the implementation of Article 4 of the Protocol. (2) The Commission shall ensure that the approval on behalf of the Union: (a) is in accordance with the objectives of the common fisheries policy; (b) is consistent with the relevant rules adopted by regional fisheries management organisations and takes account of joint management by coastal states; (c) takes account of the most recent statistical, biological and other relevant information sent to the Commission. (3) To that effect and based on the information referred to in point 2(c), a preparatory document setting out the particulars of the proposed Union position (the ‘preparatory document’) shall be transmitted by the Commission, in sufficient time before the relevant Joint Committee meeting, to the Council or to its preparatory bodies for consideration and approval. (4) The proposed position of the Union set out in the preparatory document shall be deemed to be agreed, unless a number of Member States equivalent to a blocking minority of the Council, in accordance with Article 16(4) of the Treaty on European Union, objects during a meeting of the Council’s preparatory body or within 20 days from receipt of the preparatory document, whichever occurs earlier. In the event of such objection, the matter shall be referred to the Council. (5) If, in the course of subsequent meetings of the Joint Committee, including on the spot, it is impossible to reach an agreement, the matter shall be referred back to the Council, in accordance with the procedure set out in points 2, 3 and 4, in order for the Union position to take account of new factors. (6) The Commission is invited to take, in due time, any steps necessary to follow up on the decision of the Joint Committee, including, where appropriate, publishing the relevant decision in the Official Journal of the European Union and submitting any proposal necessary for the implementation of that decision. (7) As regards other matters which do not concern amendments to the Protocol under Article 16(2) of the Protocol, the position to be adopted by the Union within the Joint Committee shall be determined in accordance with the Treaties and established working practices. ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/2229/oj 3/3