EU Fisheries Committee to vote on Greenland deal and debate Baltic plan, gear modernisation, and trawler protections
Fisheries Committee gears up for key votes and sector reforms
The European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries will meet on Tuesday 20 May in Brussels to vote on a new Greenland fisheries agreement, and to debate a series of headline issues including decarbonisation, modernisation of fishing gear, and management of vulnerable marine species.
The Greenland deal, covering 2025–2030, forms part of the EU’s Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement with Greenland and Denmark. MEPs are expected to adopt both a draft report and recommendation prepared by Emma Forreau (The Left, France).
Gear reform, decarbonisation and sensitive species on the table
In the morning session, MEP Ton Diepeveen (PfE, Netherlands) will present a draft report on decarbonisation and gear modernisation in EU fisheries, an area attracting growing political and industry attention as the Commission pushes for more climate-aligned practices at sea.
At 10.30, MEPs will also consider a draft opinion on the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, led by Isabelle Le Callennec (EPP, France). Implementation of the post-Brexit fisheries framework remains a politically sensitive topic, particularly with recent tensions around quota access and vessel licensing.
In the afternoon, attention turns to the management of sensitive species and invasive threats, with a draft report from André Rodrigues (S&D, Portugal) set for discussion at 14.30.
Baltic Sea plan under fresh scrutiny
MEPs will then review a working document on the multiannual plan for the Baltic Sea, prepared by Isabella Lövin (Greens, Sweden). The Baltic continues to face critical stock pressures, with declining cod and herring biomass forcing repeated cuts to catch limits.
The committee will also hear a presentation on the European Economic and Social Committee’s opinion on the Oceans Pact, delivered by rapporteur Javier Garat Pérez at 16.00.
This will be followed by a briefing on the ICES advice regarding eel stock progress, presented by a European Commission official. Eel conservation remains a controversial file, with a number of member states resisting stronger restrictions on commercial and recreational fishing.
Trawling sector protection back on agenda
Later in the session, authors will present a proposal for a Union Act aimed at amending the Council Regulation on 2025 fishing opportunities in the Mediterranean and Black Seas. The proposal includes a renewed defence of the trawling sector, which has come under increased pressure from environmental targets and spatial restrictions.
A letter to Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius on the Western Mediterranean multiannual plan will also be discussed, signalling growing concern among some MEPs over the impact of continued cutbacks on fleet viability.
The meeting will take place in the Paul-Henri Spaak building (room 5B001) from 09:00 to 11:30 and 14:30 to 18:30.
Source: EU Fisheries Committee
