EU/Liberia Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement and Implementation Protocol from 9 December 2015 to 8 December 2020

The Committee on Fisheries adopted the report by Jarosław WAŁĘSA (EPP, PL) on the draft Council decision on the conclusion on behalf of the European Union of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Liberia and the Implementation Protocol thereto.

The committee called on the European Parliament to give its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement and the Protocol thereto.

In a short justification accompanying the report, Members considered that the SPFA with Liberia and its implementation Protocol is coherent with the aims of the Common Fisheries Policy, of a sustainable management of Fisheries and aquaculture activities and that it is of great mutual benefit to both parties.

The agreement seeks to strengthen the cooperation between the Union and Liberia, and more generally with West Africa where important tuna fishing zones are located. It promotes a partnership framework in which to develop a sustainable fisheries policy and responsible exploitation of fishery resources in the Liberian fishing zone. It helps the European Union in its global fight against IUU fishing by supporting the improvement of monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) of the Liberian fisheries sector and Economic Exclusive Zone.

This is in the interest of both Parties, in line with relevant conservation and management measures and within the limits of the available surplus.

Lastly, in general the report regretted that the European Parliament has a limited role in the adoption of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership agreements through only a consent procedure. It considered that the European Parliament should be awarded a more active role and be immediately and fully informed at all stages of the procedures concerning the FPAs or its renewals in order to increase transparency and democratic accountability of the protocols.