Overview
Status: Dormant
In 2015, the European Union and Liberia signed a 5-year sustainable fisheries partnership agreement (SFPA) focused on tuna fishing, marking their first such partnership. The agreement lasted from 9 December 2015 to 8 December 2020, and has not been renewed since.
The most recent protocol ended on 8 December 2020.
A dormant agreement means that the partnership exists, but there is no active protocol. As a result, with no rules on catches and contributions, the EU fleet cannot fish in the waters of Liberia. This also applies to direct licencing, in line with the agreement’s exclusivity clause and the common fisheries policy article 31(5).
However, dormant agreements can still be used for discussions and cooperation on fisheries issues.
News
Today, the European Commission adopted two dedicated strategies, one for EU islands and one for EU coastal communities, setting out for the first time a coordinated European approach to support both types of territories and unlock their long-term potential.
On Saturday 23 May 2026, on the shore of Limassol, Cyprus, Commissioner Costas Kadis officially launched this year’s edition of the #EUBeachCleanup campaign.
In 2025, the EU exported 2.7 thousand tonnes of shark fins to countries outside the EU, worth €44.8 million. Compared with 2024, the export volume decreased by 15.2% (from 3.1 thousand tonnes), and the export value dropped by 31.3% (from €65.3 million).