Spanish Fishing Sector Demands Dedicated EU Fund For 2028–2034

Spanish fishing sector urges Minister Luis Planas to defend reinforced EU fisheries fund, warning of job losses, unfair competition, and import dependence

The Spanish fishing sector has urged Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister Luis Planas to defend a specific and reinforced EU fund for fisheries in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034).

At a meeting on 11 September, industry representatives led by CEPESCA agreed to form a united front in pressing for dedicated financing, warning that the European Commission’s current proposal would leave the sector severely underfunded.

The Commission has suggested just €2 billion for fisheries, compared with €6.1 billion under the current European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), a cut of 67 percent despite an overall increase in the EU budget.

The draft legislation also merges agricultural and fisheries funding under a single budget line, with no clear allocation for fishing.

Sector Warns Of Marginalisation

According to CEPESCA, this merger would push fisheries into a marginal role without a financial instrument of its own. The group argues that this undermines the EU’s own strategic objectives of competitiveness and autonomy.

The sector is calling for binding minimum allocations for fisheries in the next framework, to prevent funds being diverted to other areas, along with harmonised co-financing rules to support fleet modernisation, sustainability and safety on an equal footing across member states.

Calls For Joint European Position

Industry leaders also pressed Spain to coordinate with France, Portugal, Italy and Ireland to build a joint negotiating front in the Council of the EU. They stressed that fishing is one of the few genuinely common policies of the Union and warned that without a dedicated fund, resources risk being diluted or redirected to non-fisheries sectors under the European Ocean Pact, such as marine energy, biotechnology or desalination.

Fears Of Unfair Competition

CEPESCA further warned that leaving co-financing decisions for vessels over 12 metres to individual member states would create clear risks of unfair competition within the EU.

The organisation highlighted the potential consequences if fisheries lose a specific financial instrument: job losses in coastal communities, a weakened fleet against global competitors, reduced EU fish production leading to higher prices and greater import dependence, and diminished capacity to meet sustainability and energy transition targets.