Debate: Implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy and future perspectives
Date: THURSDAY, 18 JANUARY 2024
Speaker: Virginijus Sinkevičius
Language: EN

First of all, on the reform of common fisheries policy, the existing legislative framework provides the stability the fisheries sector needs. Several challenges have been identified to the successful implementation of the common fisheries policy, and initiatives announced in the fisheries and oceans package address these challenges. So the focus should be now, of course, on implementation and having, ensuring, stability to our fishers. As regards the MSY, where MSY has been implemented, stocks have increased. Catches and incomes are improving and impacts on the marine environment have decreased. Dear colleagues, these are real, tangible achievements which we have set out in our annual communications on the common fisheries policy. Returning back to landing obligation, which I already addressed in my introductory remarks, we need improved control and enforcement at all levels, as now also reflected in the recently revised EU Fisheries Control System, as well as the further use of more selective fishing techniques. The Commission will evaluate the landing obligation. Prior to that, throughout 2024, a study will be carried out to feed into the evaluation, so the Commission agrees that the objective to be reached should be to fish more selectively. Now social pillar, which has been mentioned a lot, and we had constant exchanges, which is absolutely critical for our fishers. The social pillar is crucial. It’s crucial for the fisheries and aquaculture sectors within the context of the common fisheries policy, but also for policymaking and implementation regarding the other blue sectors. So this overarching social objective is key to ensure generational renewal in fisheries. It is also essential for strong and resilient coastal communities. So we of course want to ensure that no one is left behind. And social pillar is a strong key part of the CFP. Very shortly, the Commission launched a new EU-wide participatory foresight project to forecast the role of fishers in the society called ‘Fishers of the Future’. Fishers are facing a multitude of new challenges – climate change, more and more competition for marine space, rising costs and the need to transition to greener energies, amongst others. And this project wants to look ahead and understand how fishers, including the small-scale operators, envisage their future. On small-scale fisheries, which was also mentioned, and Article 17 of the CFP, the Commission is working with Member States and the Scientific and Technical Economic Committee for Fisheries to assess the approach in Member States for allocating their fishing opportunities to ensure the transparency of criteria applied and their conformity with the CFP provisions, and encourages, of course, the use of criteria that can foster sustainable fishing practices and support small-scale and coastal fisheries. The last thing: level playing field. I know this is important, and I can reassure you that this is as equally important to the Commission. Commission is fully committed to further promote a level playing field for EU fishers, where they operate with the third countries’ operators. So the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing will also continue to be a key priority for us. Dear Members of the Parliament, dear colleagues, trust and engagement between all stakeholders from producers to policymakers is key to achieving our sustainability objectives and to strengthening our open strategic autonomy in the areas of fisheries. This is why we have called on Member States, fisheries stakeholders and the scientific community to join us in a Fisheries and Oceans Pact to reconfirm our joint commitment to fully implement the current policy and to contribute to necessary reflections and assessment of certain elements of the common fisheries policy. And this will then contribute to a discussion between fisheries managers and stakeholders on future-proofing the policy in terms of both social and environmental resilience. So today’s debate has been an important moment in this regard. Thank you for that.