COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2025/643

of 24 March 2025

on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Protocol (2024-2029) implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cabo Verde

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), second subparagraph, 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 (1),

Whereas:

(1) In accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2024/2152 (2), the Protocol (2024-2029) implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cabo Verde (‘the Protocol’) was signed on 23 July 2024, subject to its conclusion at a later date.

(2) The objectives of the Protocol are to allow Union vessels to fish in Cabo Verde’s fishing zone and to enable the Union and Cabo Verde to work closely together to further promote the development of a sustainable fisheries policy and the responsible exploitation of fishery resources in Cabo Verde’s fishing zone. That cooperation will also contribute to decent working conditions in the fisheries sector.

(3) The Protocol should be approved on behalf of the Union.

(4) In accordance with the Treaties, the Commission should give the notification provided for in Article 18 of the Protocol.

(5) Article 9 of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cabo Verde (3) (the ‘Agreement’) establishes a Joint Committee responsible for monitoring the application of the Agreement and of the Protocol. This Joint Committee has the power to approve certain amendments to the Protocol. In order to facilitate the approval of such amendments, the Commission should be empowered, subject to substantive and procedural conditions, to approve them on behalf of the Union under a simplified procedure.

(6) The Union’s position on proposed amendments to the Protocol should be established by the Council. The proposed amendments should be approved unless a blocking minority of Member States objects to them, in accordance with Article 16(4) of the Treaty on European Union.

(7) The European Data Protection Supervisor was consulted in accordance with Article 42 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 (4) of the European Parliament and of the Council and delivered an opinion on 5 July 2024,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Protocol (2024-2029) implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cabo Verde is hereby approved on behalf of the European Union (5).

Article 2

The Commission shall, on behalf of the Union, give the notification provided for in Article 18 of the Protocol, in order to express the consent of the Union to be bound by the Protocol (6).

Article 3

In accordance with the provisions and conditions laid down in the Annex to this Decision, the Commission is empowered to approve, on behalf of the Union, amendments to the Protocol adopted by the Joint Committee established under Article 9 of the Agreement.

Article 4

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 24 March 2025.

For the Council

The President

C. SIEKIERSKI

(1) Consent of 11 February 2025 (not yet published in the Official Journal).

(2) Council Decision (EU) 2024/2152 of 15 July 2024 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and provisional application of the Protocol (2024-2029) implementing the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cabo Verde (

OJ L, 2024/2152, 21.8.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/2152/oj

(3) Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cape Verde (

OJ L 414, 30.12.2006, p. 3

(4) 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

(5) The text of the Protocol is published in

OJ L, 2024/2151, 21.8.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/prot/2024/2151/oj

(6) 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.

ANNEX

PROCEDURE FOR APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS TO THE PROTOCOL TO BE ADOPTED BY THE JOINT COMMITTEE

Where the Joint Committee is asked to adopt amendments to the Protocol under Article 9 of the Agreement and under Articles 6 and 9 of the Protocol, the Commission is authorised to approve the proposed amendments on behalf of the Union, under the following conditions:

(1) 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;

(2) Before approving the proposed amendments on behalf of the Union, the Commission shall submit them to the Council in sufficient time before the relevant Joint Committee meeting.

(3) The Council shall assess whether the proposed amendments comply with the criteria laid down in point 1.

(4) 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, object to the proposed amendments, the Commission shall approve them on behalf of the Union. If there is such a blocking minority, the Commission shall reject the proposed amendments on behalf of the Union.

(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 to 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.

As regards other matters which do not concern amendments to the Protocol, in accordance with Article 9 of the Agreement and Articles 6 and 9 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/2025/643/oj

ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)