Ex-post and ex-ante evaluation study of the 2021-2024 protocol and of a possible new implementing protocol to the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and Greenland : final report

1. The Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) between the European Union (EU) and the Government of Greenland and the Government of Denmark, is one of the most financially significant EU fisheries agreements with a third country for the EU. It is the only EU agreement in northern waters involving financial compensation for access, and the allocation of quotas to the Member States (MS) is subject to the total allowable catch (TAC) and quota regulation provisions. 2.The current Protocol to the SFPA will expire on 21 April 2025 but with tacit expiration on 31 December 2024 as agreed by the parties. The EU undertakes to pay Greenland EUR 16 521 754 per annum, comprising an annual financial compensation for access of EUR 13 590 754 and an additional contribution of EUR 2 931 000 for sectoral support to implement Greenland's fisheries policy. 3. Species stock components included in the Protocol are cod, pelagic and demersal redfish, East & West Greenland halibut, East & West Northern prawn,capelin, East & West grenadier (as bycatch), and mackerel. A specific quota is also set aside for bycatch in these fisheries. Six EU MS have benefitted from quota during the current Protocol: Germany, Denmark, France, Lithuania, Estonia and Sweden. 4. This report provides an ex-post evaluation of the current Protocol and an ex-ante evaluation of a possible future Protocol to the SFPA between the EU and Greenland, in line with Article 34 of the Financial Regulation. It provides data and analysis to inform a decision as to whether to provide a mandate to the European Commission (on behalf of the EU) to negotiate with Greenland for a new Protocol. The evaluation covers the period of the current Protocol from 22 April 2021 to 31 December2023. The evaluation was completed between 5 January to 31 March 2024, and involved remote consultations with relevant EU and Greenlandic stakeholders, and economic, social, and environmental analyses.