Romania and Spain voice wildlife and fishing concerns at EU AGRIFISH meeting

On 22 June 2026, the EU Council of Agriculture and Fisheries (AGRIFISH) met in Luxembourg. Romania, represented by Vice‑Prime Minister Tánczos Barna, interim Agriculture Minister and Director Dana Rebega, asked for greater flexibility in the strict protection regime for brown‑bear populations. Together with Slovakia, Romania highlighted that the two states hold more than half of the EU’s brown‑bear stock and are seeing a rise in human‑bear incidents in rural areas. The minister warned that “it is tragic and morbid that in the 21st century EU citizens are being literally eaten by wild animals” and called for a permanent management framework under Article 16 of the Habitats Directive.

Spain’s acting councilor for Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Ramón Fernández‑Pacheco, spoke on behalf of Andalucía. He urged a more stable, science‑based approach for western Mediterranean fisheries, demanding multi‑year planning, clearer rules and sufficient, dedicated EU funding for the Common Fisheries Policy. He expressed concern over proposals to merge the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund into a broader financial instrument, stressing the need for reliable financing to modernise fleets, support generational renewal and enable an energy transition for the sector.