Europêche, the leading EU association representing the fishing sector, fully endorses the resolution adopted today by the European Parliament on the evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and its follow-up1. The vote sends a clear cross-party message: Europe’s fisheries policy must be updated, and the European Commission must now bring forward the necessary legislative changes without delay.
The current CFP was designed for a different political and economic reality. It does not adequately address the consequences of Brexit, climate change, the energy crisis, growing competition for maritime space, Europe’s dependence on seafood imports or the need to renew and decarbonise the EU fishing fleet. Several of its rules, including the landing obligation and the present definition of fishing capacity, have also proved unworkable or counterproductive.
The Parliament’s resolution joins the call made by the Council in November 20252, when 13 Member States declared that a timely and ambitious reform of the CFP was urgent and necessary. With Parliament and Member States now pointing in the same direction, the Commission can no longer postpone legislative action.
Javier Garat, President of Europêche, stated: ‘Today, the Parliament has recognised what European fishers have been saying for years: better implementation of outdated rules is not enough. The CFP needs a targeted legislative reform. We fully support Parliament’s resolution and expect the Commission to respect this democratic mandate by presenting concrete legislative proposals without delay.’
Europêche particularly welcomes Parliament’s demand for a fisheries policy that gives equal weight to environmental, economic and social sustainability. EU rules must support food security, viable fishing businesses, safe and attractive careers, generational renewal and the energy transition, while continuing to conserve fish stocks on the basis of sound science.
Almost two years into the current Commission’s mandate, the time for further diagnosis has passed. Europêche calls on the Commission and its services to move immediately from evaluation to legislative action. The sector stands ready to contribute its practical expertise and work with the EU institutions on a modern CFP that responds to the realities facing European fisheries. ‘The diagnosis has been made, both the Parliament and Member States have now set the political direction,’ Garat concluded. ‘There is no justification for further delay. Europe needs a CFP that works at sea, not only on paper.’
[1] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-10-2026-0386_EN.html
[2] https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-15236-2025-INIT/en/pdf?utm_source
ENDS
Press contact:
Daniel Voces, Managing Director, Europêche
Tel: +32 489268107
Email: daniel.voces@europeche.org
