When the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers meet in Brussels on Monday 17 November, Spain and other countries such as Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal will be calling for a review of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
The European Commission is continuing its evaluation of the current rules of the CFP, despite the fact that this policy has not been reformed since 2013. The results of this evaluation of the CFP should be published in spring 2026.
According to the countries requesting a review of the CFP, the regulatory framework is complex, creating legal uncertainties and administrative burdens for stakeholders.
Europe’s fleet is ageing and heavily dependent on fossil fuels, while infrastructure is closing, threatening jobs in coastal regions. Over 70% of seafood consumed in the EU is imported.
The context in which the CFP operates has become increasingly delicate (geopolitical tensions, wars, impacts of climate change). According to the Ministers from these countries, these realities require a political framework capable of guaranteeing food security and sovereignty, as well as high social and environmental standards.
An ambitious reform of the CFP is considered urgent and necessary. These countries believe that a renewed, integrated and forward-looking policy can ensure the long-term environmental and socio-economic viability of the fishing industry and coastal communities.
In addition, the Spanish Minister, Luis Planas, is expected to criticise the Commission’s proposals, which he considers unacceptable, concerning the 2026 fishing opportunities in the Mediterranean (see other news). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)