EPP urges EU to balance Ocean Pact with fishing industry viability, fight illegal fishing, and avoid excessive bureaucracy. Photo: European Union
The European People’s Party (EPP) Group has adopted a firm stance ahead of the European Commission’s upcoming Ocean Pact, advocating a balanced approach that safeguards marine ecosystems without compromising the competitiveness of Europe’s fishing fleet.
Isabelle Le Callennec MEP, responsible for the dossier within the EPP Group, emphasised the need to balance economic development, social cohesion, and environmental protection. “Fisheries and aquaculture are strategic sectors for Europe, not only because of their economic weight, but also because they are key to food security and the vitality of coastal communities,” she said.
The EPP Group stressed that European food security depends on supporting production and ensuring fair access to maritime areas for sustainable fishing. Gabriel Mato MEP, the Group’s spokesperson on the Parliament’s Fisheries Committee, warned against imposing further restrictions on access to waters pushed by some conservationists.
“Environmental protection and the economy can go hand in hand. Science, new technologies and the experience of fishermen must all be part of the debate if we are to preserve our seas without compromising the viability of the sector,” he said.
Avoiding regulatory overreach is also a priority. Le Callennec noted, “European fisheries are the most virtuous and most regulated in the world; we should champion our high standards internationally, while protecting our seafood supply chain from unfair global competition. But we must also make sure these rules don’t backfire. We must avoid shooting ourselves in the foot by imposing totally unbridled bureaucracy.”
The fight against illegal fishing and fraud remains critical. The MEPs highlighted that Europe imports 70% of the seafood it consumes, making it essential to defend sustainable and competitive European fisheries against illegal practices from third countries. Illegal fishing is a major environmental, food safety, social, and humanitarian threat, they concluded.
The full text of the EPP Group’s position on the European Oceans Pact will be published soon.
Source: EPP
