In the first six months of 2024, before the changes that will take place after the European elections, the European Commission intends to continue implementing the fisheries and maritime policy initiatives launched under the leadership of Virginijus Sinkevičius, the European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries.
A Commission spokesman told EUROPE on Wednesday 10 January that the coming months would be devoted to continuing the work undertaken in recent years: ensuring the growth of a sustainable blue economy, establishing solid international links to ensure good governance of the ocean at multilateral and bilateral level (notably with the United Kingdom and Norway), continuing the fight against illegal fishing and ensuring the viability and sustainability of fisheries activities.
According to the institution, there will also need to be a continuation of the work begun in 2023 with the implementation of the Fisheries and Oceans Pact (see EUROPE 13126/1), the ratification and implementation of the High Seas Treaty (see EUROPE 13270/35), the implementation of the updated maritime security strategy, and the follow-up to the Our Baltic conference.
Other initiatives could be announced in terms of ocean management and multi-year management plans for certain stocks.
For its part, the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council will ensure that the diversity and interests of the EU fishing fleet are taken into account, including in fisheries agreements with third countries.
On Thursday 18 January, the European Parliament will debate the priorities for implementing the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), when it adopts the report (https://aeur.eu/f/ac0 ) by Gabriel Mato (EPP, Spanish) on the subject (see EUROPE 13280/17). Finally, by adopting a report (https://aeur.eu/f/ac2 ), the European Parliament will criticise the unrealistic nature of the Commission’s action plan on marine ecosystems (see EUROPE 13309/10). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)