Europêche has called for urgent reforms to the European Union’s fisheries policy following talks with European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis and representatives of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU.
The discussions centred on the future of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), regulatory simplification and measures to improve the competitiveness, resilience and long-term sustainability of Europe’s fishing industry.
The fishing industry body argued that while the EU fleet has made significant environmental progress over the past decade, existing policies have fallen short of delivering the socio-economic outcomes needed to sustain fishing communities.
Europêche urged policymakers to create a more balanced framework that strengthens food security, strategic autonomy and competitiveness while reducing unnecessary administrative burdens.
The association also welcomed the Cyprus Presidency’s progress in negotiations on the next multiannual financial framework, particularly the proposal to increase ring-fenced funding for sustainable fisheries from €2 billion to €4 billion.
Europêche said the additional investment would help modernise the fleet, support the energy transition, improve safety at sea and encourage innovation and generational renewal.
Welcoming the European Commission’s efforts to simplify fisheries legislation, Europêche nevertheless called for broader reforms, including improvements to the landing obligation, fleet management rules and fisheries control measures to ensure regulations remain practical and commercially viable.
“Europe’s fishermen have delivered on sustainability,” said Javier Garat, president of Europêche. “Now EU policies must also deliver on competitiveness, profitability and generational renewal.
“With the review of the CFP, the Vision for Fisheries 2040 and negotiations on the next EU budget now underway, Europe has a unique opportunity to put fisheries back at the heart of its agenda. The sector needs concrete action, not more delays, to reverse the declining trend and secure a sustainable and prosperous future for Europe’s fishing communities.”
Europêche also called for continued engagement with the UK, Norway and other coastal states on fair quota-sharing agreements, stronger safeguards for the EU tuna sector in future trade deals, and greater protection of traditional fishing grounds within the forthcoming Ocean Act.
The association welcomed the presentation of the EU’s first Strategies for Islands and Coastal Communities and reaffirmed its commitment to working with European institutions on a simpler, more coherent and forward-looking fisheries policy.
