Parliament approves first EU-Liberia fisheries agreement

2016.05.10

Under the first-ever five-year fisheries agreement with Liberia, approved by plenary on Tuesday - 584 votes to 35 with 43 abstentions - EU and mainly Spanish and French vessels targeting tuna will be allowed to fish in the waters of the Liberian Exclusive Economic Zone. In return, the EU will pay Liberia a financial contribution of €715000 for the first year, €650000 for the second, third and fourth year and €585000 for the fifth year.

The first-ever Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement with Liberia was signed on 9 December 2015 and has applied provisionally since then.

Background information

The fisheries sector contributes about 12% of Liberia’s agricultural gross domestic product (GDP) and 3% of the overall GDP. With more than half of the population estimated to live along the coast, dependent on fisheries for livelihoods, fish provides an estimated 65 % of animal protein intake within the country.

Procedure: Consent procedure

Further information

Adopted text will be available here (click on 10.05.2016)

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/plenary/en/texts-adopted.html

Video recording of debate (click on 09.05.2016)

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/ep-live/en/plenary/search-by-date

Profile of rapporteur Jarosław WAŁĘSA (EPP, PL)

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/96774/JAROSLAW_WALESA_home.html

Procedure file

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2015/0224%28NLE%29&l=en#tab-0

Commission webpage on Liberia

http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/cfp/international/agreements/liberia/index_en.htm