EU–Cook Islands Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (2025-2032): Implementing Protocol

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the Union, the Protocol on the implementation of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the Cook Islands (2025-2032).

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the Council.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act. 

BACKGROUND: the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) between the European Union and the Government of the Cook Islands was signed on 14 October 2016 and entered into force on 10 May 2017 for a period of eight years from the date of the start of its provisional application. The agreement is tacitly renewable for eight-year periods and is therefore still in force.

The Commission to conduct negotiations with the Cook Islands on a new protocol implementing the SFPA. Following these negotiations, a protocol was initialled by the negotiators on 20 June 2025. The new protocol covers a period of seven years from the date of provisional application.

CONTENT: this proposal seeks to obtain the Council’s authorisation for the conclusion of the new Protocol on the implementation of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the Cook Islands (2025-2032).

The objectives of the Protocol are to enable Union vessels to fish in the fishing zone of the Cook Islands and to enable the Union and the Cook Islands to work closely together to further promote the development of a sustainable fisheries policy and the responsible exploitation of fishery resources in the fishing zone of the Cook Islands. This cooperation will also contribute to decent working conditions in the fisheries sector.

Fishing opportunities

The new protocol grants fishing opportunities to Union vessels in fishing zones located in Cook Islands waters, in compliance with scientific advice and recommendations of the relevant regional fisheries management organisations (WCPFC, RFMOPS, APSOI).

The protocol provides fishing opportunities for:

- 4 tuna purse seiners;

- 40 days of fishing per year in the Cook Islands fishing zone.

Budgetary impact

The annual financial contribution amounts to EUR 460 000, based on:

- an annual amount for access to fishery resources as provided for in the protocol, set at EUR 165 000 for the duration of the protocol;

- support for development of the Cook Islands’ sectoral fisheries policy amounting to EUR 295 000 per year. This support meets the objectives of the Cook Islands’ strategic plan for fisheries.