Ex-post evaluation study of the Protocol to the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union, and the Government of Greenland and the Government of Denmark, and ex-ante evaluation of a potential future Protocol

Client: DG MARE Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (European Commission)

Project Dates: January 2024 - March 2024

Project objectives:
Article 34 of the current EU Financial Regulation and article 31(10) of the current Common Fisheries Policy basic Regulation request that an ex-post and ex-ante evaluation be arranged by the Commission before the signature of a new Protocol to an EU Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement.

This evaluation was carried out by Poseidon (Europe) within a consortium led by Poseidon in association with F&S through the MARE/2021/OP/0001 multiple framework service contract in cascade for better regulation related activities on Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements (SFPAs).

The purpose of this specific contract wass to provide the European Commission with an independent ex-post and ex-ante evaluation of the 2021-2024 implementing Protocol[1] to the SFPA signed in 2021.

[1] Protocol implementing the sustainable fisheries partnership agreement between the European union, of the one part, and the government of Greenland and the government of Denmark, of the other part, (OJ L 175, 18.5.2021, p. 3–40).

Poseidon services provided:
The evaluation team, consisting of Poseidon pemanent staff, assessed the viability of the existing or potential future arrangements as required under the CFP. It provided the Commission with the data and technical, economic, and social analyses of the fisheries resources and related fishing and economic activities. This allowed the Commission to assess and provide the feedback of the evaluation of the performance of the implementing Protocol and decide on future needs.

This evaluation study also evaluated the features of a potential new Protocol and prepared possible negotiations between the Commission on behalf of the EU and Greenland. It also provided information on the cooperation between the EU and Greenland on policies related to the Agreement - for example, on the trade of fisheries and aquaculture products between the EU and Greenland or the EU development and cooperation policies and interests in Greenland related to fisheries, marine and maritime policies.

The Commission used this evaluation study as a tool for improving the quality and coherence of the decision-making and as basis for the Commission’s evaluation report (Staff Working Document) on the subject.

The evaluation report is available to the public on the website of the Publications Office of the EU - link to here.