Date: 2025-11-06Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Council Regulation (EU) 2025/2257 of 29 September 2025 on the allocation of fishing opportunities under 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 Council Regulation (EU) 2025/2257, dated 29 September 2025, concerns the allocation of fishing opportunities under 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 2025-2029. It allocates fishing opportunities to Member States. The regulation applies from 6 October 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Allocation of Fishing Opportunities:**
* The fishing opportunities established under the Protocol are allocated among Member States.
* For 26 tuna seiners: 15 vessels are allocated to Spain and 11 vessels to France.
* For 9 surface longliners: 7 vessels are allocated to Spain and 2 vessels to Portugal.
* **Entry into Force and Application:**
* The Regulation enters into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
* It applies from 6 October 2025.
* **Binding Nature:** The regulation is binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
**Impact Analysis**
**Spain**
* **Impact:** Granted the largest allocation of fishing opportunities, including 15 tuna seiners and 7 surface longliners.
* **Action Required:** Ensure vessels comply with the established fishing opportunities and related regulations.
**France**
* **Impact:** Allocated 11 tuna seiners for fishing activities.
* **Action Required:** Ensure vessels comply with the allocated fishing opportunities and related regulations.
**Portugal**
* **Impact:** Allocated 2 surface longliners for fishing activities.
* **Action Required:** Ensure vessels comply with the allocated fishing opportunities and related regulations.
**EU Fishing Fleets**
* **Impact:** Able to continue fishing activities in São Tomé and Príncipe's fishing zone under the new protocol.
* **Action Required:** Adhere to the fishing opportunities allocated to their member state.
**Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe**
* **Impact:** The protocol allows EU vessels to fish in their waters, providing economic benefits.
* **Action Required:** Ensure their regulations and requirements are adhered to.
Key Entities Referenced
Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community (2025–2029): The agreement that this regulation implements, setting out the terms of fishing cooperation between the EU and São Tomé and Príncipe.
Council Regulation (EU) 2025/2257: The regulation allocating fishing opportunities under the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community.
European Union: One of the parties to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement, whose member states are allocated fishing opportunities by this regulation.
Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe: One of the parties to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement, whose fishing zone is subject to the allocation of opportunities.
Council Decision (EU) 2025/2139: Decision on 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 (2025-2029).
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2025/2257 6.11.2025
COUNCIL REGULATION (EU) 2025/2257
of 29 September 2025
on the allocation of fishing opportunities under 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 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, on 9 April 2025, 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’).
(4) In accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2025/2139(2), the Protocol was signed on 6 October 2025, subject to its
conclusion at a later date.
(5) The fishing opportunities provided for in the Protocol should be allocated among the Member States for the entire
period of its application.
(6) This Regulation should apply as soon as possible, 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.
(7) The Protocol will apply on a provisional basis from the date of its signature in order to allow fishing activity by
Union vessels. This Regulation should therefore apply from the same date,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
The fishing opportunities established under 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) shall be allocated
among the Member States as follows:
(a) 26 tuna seiners:
Spain: 15 vessels
France: 11 vessels;
(1) OJ L 205, 7.8.2007, p. 35, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2007/894/oj.
(2) 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) (OJ L, 2025/2139, 22.10.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/2139/oj).
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2025/2257/oj 1/2EN
OJ L, 6.11.2025
(b) 9 surface longliners:
Spain: 7 vessels
Portugal: 2 vessels.
Article 2
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
It shall apply from 6 October 2025.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 29 September 2025.
For the Council
The President
M. BØDSKOV
2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2025/2257/oj