European fishing groups and MEPs call for Common Fisheries Policy reform

Industry organizations, including Europêche, ETF, EFFAT, and Copa-Cogeca, have issued a joint statement criticizing the European Commission’s 2040 vision for fisheries and aquaculture. While the vision aims to address structural challenges and ensure long-term sustainability, the groups argue it lacks a commitment to a targeted reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). They note that the last comprehensive reform occurred in 2013, leaving the current framework over three years behind its typical decennial cycle.

Industry representatives highlight that fishing fleets and production are shrinking, jobs are disappearing, and aquaculture is stagnating. They argue the CFP must be updated to address modern realities such as climate change, Brexit, geopolitical and energy crises, food security, and decarbonization.

Carmen Crespo Díaz, Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries, echoed these concerns, stating that the current policy was designed for a different context and fails to meet the needs of modern fishers and coastal communities. She urged the Commission to establish a precise timeline for reform, specifically calling for a legislative proposal in the first half of 2027 to ensure action before the end of the current legislature.