The European Union and Iceland held a high-level dialogue on ocean cooperation in Reykjavik on Friday 17 April, reaffirming their shared commitment to sustainable fisheries, Arctic governance and the blue economy.
The European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, has met Iceland’s Minister for Industry, Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, to review progress made under the EU-Iceland Memorandum of Understanding signed in July 2025 (see EUROPE 13681/20).
The agreement builds on decades of cooperation, including a bilateral fisheries partnership dating back to 1993, and establishes a framework for further collaboration in the areas of marine sustainability, scientific research and energy transition in the fisheries sector.
The discussions focused on a number of key areas, including: - arctic cooperation and the response to common regional challenges; - fisheries management, with particular emphasis on strengthening stock conservation and quota agreements; - ocean governance, to strengthen multilateral engagement within Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs), while advancing global initiatives for the protection of the marine environment and a sustainable blue economy.
Commissioner Kadis pointed out that the two parties faced many common challenges, from climate change to the pressure on fish stocks, and said that “it is essential to work closely together”.
During his trip, Mr Kadis visited Grindavík, a coastal town that has been hard hit by volcanic eruptions since 2023, to meet local fishermen and see for himself the resilience of Iceland’s fishing communities.
He also visited the Iceland Ocean Cluster, a leading innovation cluster dedicated to the circular blue bioeconomy, whose work is closely aligned with the objectives of the European Ocean Pact.
The subject of the international agreement on mackerel fishing has not been formally raised between the two parties, according to official statements (see EUROPE 13814/14). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)