How to watch the Committee on Fisheries (PECH)

Committee on Fisheries Ordinary meeting

2025 EU fisheries budget opinion: priorities and political positions

Jessica Polfjärd and 5 others

The committee opens work on its 2025 EU budget opinion as the rapporteur presents key demands on EMFAF levels, accessibility and post‑2028 architecture, followed by political groups setting their priorities on fleet support, conditionalities, competitiveness, import reciprocity, blue economy sustainability and simplification of funding and data collection.

In this chapter

1. Opening of 2025 EU budget opinion and rapporteur’s prioritiesJessica Polfjärd
2. Political groups: fisheries budget priorities and conditionalitiesJessica Polfjärd

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Committee on Fisheries Ordinary meeting

CATCH import control system: mandate, issues, adjustments

Paulo do Nascimento Cabral and 5 others

The committee examines the EU’s mandatory CATCH system against IUU fishing, with the Commission outlining its legal basis, objectives, initial performance and planned upgrades, while MEPs highlight administrative burdens, technical gaps and third‑country difficulties, prompting the Commission to detail upcoming improvements and a final extension of transition flexibilities.

In this chapter

1. CATCH implementation: Commission mandate and rolloutPaulo do Nascimento Cabral
2. MEPs: CATCH implementation burdens and technical gapsIsabelle Le Callennec
3. Commission: planned CATCH upgrades and extended flexibilitiesJessica Polfjärd

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Committee on Fisheries Ordinary meeting

Irish Council Presidency: fisheries files and closure

Paulo do Nascimento Cabral and 1 other

The Chair and Minister Heydon wrap up the item on the Irish Presidency, outlining priorities on the MFF, EMFAF, POSEI Fisheries, CFP simplification (including a possible omnibus), TACs and landing obligation derogations, state aid for MPAs, and safety and social aspects before formally closing the agenda point and suspending for a photo.

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Committee on Fisheries Ordinary meeting

MEPs to Presidency: fisheries budget and CFP reform

Francisco José Millán Mon and 10 others

MEPs from several groups press the Irish Presidency on securing a higher fisheries budget in the next MFF, protecting EMFAF/POSEI and related instruments, and delivering a clear path to reform and simplify the CFP while addressing regional pressures, landing obligation burdens and socio‑economic challenges for coastal communities.

In this chapter

1. MEPs: Fisheries budget, CFP reform and simplificationFrancisco José Millán Mon
2. Regional challenges, landing obligation and coastal communitiesSakis Arnaoutoglou

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Committee on Fisheries Ordinary meeting

Irish Council Presidency: fisheries mandate and MEP scrutiny

Paulo do Nascimento Cabral and 7 others

Irish Minister Martin Heydon presents the Irish Council Presidency’s fisheries mandate (CFP support, EMFAF revision, multiannual plans, RFMOs, SFPAs, Ocean Pact and coastal communities), followed by political group coordinators’ questions on MFF fisheries funding, CFP reform, external dimension and regional challenges, and Heydon’s replies clarifying Presidency priorities, budget constraints, science-based TACs and his role in Council negotiations.

In this chapter

1. Irish Council Presidency: fisheries priorities and work programmePaulo do Nascimento Cabral
2. Political groups: priorities and questions to Irish PresidencyIsabelle Le Callennec
3. Irish Presidency: fisheries priorities and Council roleMartin Heydon

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Committee on Fisheries Ordinary meeting

Committee opening and vote on cohesion opinion

Paulo do Nascimento Cabral PPE

Formal opening of the PECH meeting, confirmation of agenda and minutes, and detailed vote on amendments and final adoption of the Committee’s opinion on the 2028–2034 cohesion, agriculture and fisheries fund regulation linked to the next MFF.

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Committee on Fisheries Extraordinary meeting

Political groups: conditions for supporting Mediterranean fishers

France Jamet and 4 others

MEPs from Patriots for Europe, ECR, Renew and the Greens outline contrasting narratives on the causes of the crisis in Mediterranean fisheries, the weight of third-country fleets, and the pace of environmental ambition, while converging on the need to protect small-scale fishers and ensure socio-economic viability. Positions range from calls for greater flexibility and mixed-fisheries management to firm defence of the current MAP scope and science-based rebuilding of overfished stocks, rejecting its use to reopen broader CFP reforms.

In this chapter

1. Patriotes pour l’Europe Jamet: support for artisanal fishersFrance Jamet
2. ECR Junco García: three-pillar sustainability and mixed fisheriesNora Junco García
3. Renew Wiesner: environmental pillar and scientific adviceEmma Ytterell
4. Greens Lövin (for Camara): defend MAP scope and ambitionCarmen Crespo Díaz

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Committee on Fisheries Extraordinary meeting

Rapporteur and S&D shadow: objectives for MAP revision

Carmen Crespo Díaz and 1 other

The rapporteur presents the mandate, timeline and aims of revising the Western Mediterranean multiannual plan, emphasising balance between environmental, economic and social pillars and reliance on updated science, followed by the S&D shadow’s call to refocus the text on stock sustainability, long-term management and stronger action against IUU and unsustainable imports. This segment sets out the main strategic choices, national sensitivities and upcoming amendment work on the file.

In this chapter

1. Rapporteur: revision of Western Mediterranean multiannual planCarmen Crespo Díaz
2. S&D shadow Sargiacomo: sustainability focus and member states' balanceEric Sargiacomo

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Committee on Fisheries Extraordinary meeting

Opening of meeting and adoption of opinions

Carmen Crespo Díaz PPE

The Chair opens the extraordinary Fisheries Committee meeting, confirms the agenda and timing before plenary, then conducts voting on the report on socioeconomic and environmental standards for aquatic food products and on the opinion for the "Global Europe" dossier, including final roll-call results.

In this chapter

1. Opening of extraordinary meeting and agenda approvalCarmen Crespo Díaz
2. Voting: Socioeconomic and environmental standards reportCarmen Crespo Díaz
3. Voting: Opinion on "Global Europe" dossierCarmen Crespo Díaz

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Committee on Fisheries Ordinary meeting

Post‑2028 EU fisheries fund: parliamentary debate

Niclas Herbst and 7 others

Rapporteur Herbst presents his proposal to re-establish a dedicated EMFAF‑type fund for 2028‑2034 centred on CFP objectives, fleet modernisation, generational renewal and crisis response, rather than a fully integrated NRPP architecture. Shadows and DG MARE then debate the appropriate budget level, state aid and support intensities, DNSH and other horizontal principles, ring‑fencing for fisheries, POSEI‑type schemes for outermost regions and the balance between EU‑level discipline and national flexibility, before Herbst calls for parliamentary unity ahead of MFF talks.

In this chapter

1. Post‑2028 fisheries fund proposal: rapporteur Herbst re-centres on CFPNiclas Herbst
2. Shadows and Members: budget level, DNSH, POSEI-Pescas and small-scale prioritiesNicolás González Casares
3. DG MARE: defence of NRPP model, 2bn ring-fence and DNSHPaulo do Nascimento Cabral
4. Rapporteur Herbst: call for parliamentary unity on fisheries fundingNiclas Herbst

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Committee on Fisheries Ordinary meeting

West Med demersal plan: implementation review and next steps

Eric Sargiacomo and 3 others

The rapporteur-Chair and shadows assess the 2019 West Med multiannual demersal plan, acknowledging biological improvements but highlighting severe socio‑economic impacts such as reduced fishing days, ageing fleets and loss of vessels, and propose concrete regulatory changes to introduce more flexible, socio‑economic effort management. DG MARE outlines the procedure for reviewing the plan, announcing a call for evidence to gather input from fleets, scientists, NGOs and regional authorities before deciding on amendments ahead of future TAC and quota decisions.

In this chapter

1. Launch of debate on West Med demersal multiannual plan
2. Shadows and Members: West Med: science gains vs socio-economic crisisEric Sargiacomo
3. DG MARE: procedure for West Med plan review

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Committee on Fisheries Ordinary meeting

CFP future: MEP positions and Commission reply

Isabelle Le Callennec and 15 others

Coordinators and Members from across groups set out diverging views on whether to revise or merely adjust the CFP, criticising the landing obligation, budget cuts, capacity rules, red tape and socio‑economic failures, while others warn against deregulation and call for stronger support to small‑scale, low‑impact fisheries and crisis regions. The Chair synthesises priorities around fleet viability, generational renewal and food security, and Commissioner Kadis responds on landing obligation reform, regional measures (notably Baltic and Mediterranean), control, IUU, small‑scale fishers and how broader initiatives like the Ocean Act and maritime spatial planning can better integrate fisheries.

In this chapter

1. Coordinators EPP & S&D: revision vs evolution of the CFPIsabelle Le Callennec
2. Other coordinators: landing obligation, budget cuts and regional crisesStephen Nikola Bartulica
3. Left and Greens/Nordic left: warnings against deregulation and call for small-scale support

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Committee on Fisheries Ordinary meeting

Opening: agenda, Ocean Eye and CFP evaluation

Costas Kadis

The Chair opens the afternoon PECH meeting, adjusts the agenda and introduces Commissioner Kadis, who presents the new Ocean Eye ocean observation initiative and the just-published evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy, including stock, fleet and market performance. The Commissioner frames the evaluation as a diagnostic feeding into a 2040 vision, future legislative choices and a simplification agenda on multiannual plans, EMFAF and WTO‑compatible subsidies.

In this chapter

1. Opening of afternoon PECH meeting and agenda change
2. Commissioner: Ocean Eye initiative for ocean observationCostas Kadis
3. Commissioner: CFP evaluation: state of stocks, fleets and marketsCostas Kadis
4. Commissioner: CFP diagnosis, Vision 2040 and simplification agendaCostas Kadis

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Committee on Fisheries Ordinary meeting

MEP questions, expert replies and Commission position on IUU tools

Paulo do Nascimento Cabral and 7 others

Two MEP Q&A rounds on EU import dependence, IUU carding, flags of convenience, CATCH, sanctions and enforcement gaps, followed by detailed replies from the expert panel and the Commission on using EU market power, retailer responsibility, ownership transparency, CATCH implementation, IUU dialogues and the forthcoming EU forced labour regulation, concluding with calls for stronger Member State action and consumer awareness.

In this chapter

1. MEP Q&A round I: dependency on imports, IUU carding and red/yellow cardsPaulo do Nascimento Cabral
2. MEP Q&A round II: flags of convenience, CATCH system and Antarctic fisheriesIsabella Lövin
3. Experts’ replies: shift pressure to retailers, strengthen controls and ownership transparencyIsabelle Le Callennec
4. Commission responses: IUU dialogues, CATCH ‘jewel’ and forced labour regulationIsabelle Le Callennec

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Committee on Fisheries Ordinary meeting

Public hearing: scope and expert evidence on fisheries crime

Isabelle Le Callennec and 1 other

Launch of the public hearing on fisheries‑related crimes and protection of EU fishers, then expert presentations from NGOs, investigative media, INTERPOL and the Portuguese Navy on IUU fishing, forced labour, opaque ownership, flags of convenience, piracy and the limits of current EU and international enforcement tools, with concrete cases and recommended regulatory responses.

In this chapter

1. Launch of public hearing: framing IUU fishing problemIsabelle Le Callennec
2. Outlaw Ocean Project: aquaculture, fishmeal and forced labour
3. EJF: IUU fishing, forced labour and transparency toolsStéphanie Yon-Courtin

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Committee on Fisheries Ordinary meeting

Opening of meeting and fisheries votes

Nicolás González Casares and 1 other

Procedural opening of the Fisheries Committee sitting, adoption of the agenda and minutes, announcement of an extra July session, followed by two roll‑call votes on the GFCM Mediterranean regulation amendment and the delegated act on Baltic porpoise by‑catches, with brief political justification by the rapporteur.

In this chapter

1. Opening of meeting, agenda and extra July sessionNicolás González Casares
2. Votes: GFCM Mediterranean regulation and Baltic porpoiseŽeljana Zovko

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Committee on Fisheries Ordinary meeting

Chair: opening of FLAGS agenda item

The chair closes the previous study point and formally opens the debate on fisheries local action groups (FLAGS) in the next MFF, inviting the Commission to present and framing the institutional context for subsequent questions on funding and governance.

In this chapter

1. Chair: close of study item and introduction of FLAGS debate
2. MEP: FLAGS’ role, budget cuts and InvestEU synergies

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Committee on Fisheries Ordinary meeting

Commission response and experts’ clarifications on new funding model

The Commission defends the new MFF architecture as flexible and CFP‑aligned, pointing to ring‑fenced and additional envelopes and other EU instruments, while the experts clarify key structural changes from EMFAF, possible legalisation of DNSH guidance, and the limited impact of higher ring‑fencing for data and control on operators.

In this chapter

1. Commission: defence of MFF architecture and funding opportunities
2. Experts’ replies: key structural differences, DNSH legalisation and data funding

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Committee on Fisheries Ordinary meeting

MEPs’ reactions: funding level, governance and DNSH

Political group coordinators and MEPs challenge the reduced and less visible fisheries envelope, risks of dilution within NRPs, legal design flaws and DNSH uncertainty, social and food-sovereignty gaps, and unequal treatment compared with agriculture, while advocating a stronger or dedicated fisheries fund and clearer integration of the Ocean Pact/Act and decarbonisation needs.

In this chapter

1. Coordinators: budget demands, indicators, DNSH and outermost regions
2. MEPs: loss of visibility, risk of dilution and need for dedicated fund
3. MEPs: legal design issues, DNSH guidance, and Ocean Pact funding
4. MEPs: social impact, food sovereignty and comparative treatment with agriculture

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Committee on Fisheries Ordinary meeting

Opening and expert study on MFF–CFP architecture

The chair opens the meeting and the experts present their study on the Commission’s 2028–2034 MFF proposal, detailing implications for the CFP across the European Ocean Pact, the European Competitiveness Fund, the NRP fund, the EU facility, performance and conditions regulations, and the application of the DNSH principle.

In this chapter

1. Chair: opening and study mandate on MFF
2. Experts: objectives and findings on European Ocean Pact
3. Experts: European Competitiveness Fund – risks and safeguards

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Committee on Fisheries Ordinary meeting

Next MFF performance regulation: fisheries implications

Carmen Crespo Díaz and 8 others

The committee turns to its opinion on the horizontal performance regulation for the next MFF, with rapporteur, shadows, the Commission and co‑rapporteur debating the application of DNSH, climate and gender criteria to fisheries, concerns over competitiveness and administrative burden, and the role of delegated acts, before the rapporteur closes the discussion and adjourns the sitting.

In this chapter

1. Transition to performance regulation opinion: rapporteur’s prioritiesCarmen Crespo Díaz
2. Debate on DNSH, competitiveness and tracking in performance frameworkEric Sargiacomo
3. Commission and co-rapporteur on performance framework designCarmen Crespo Díaz

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Committee on Fisheries Ordinary meeting

Panel and Commission responses on simplification

José Basilio Otero Rodríguez and 7 others

Stakeholder panellists answer MEPs by stressing urgent, practical fixes using existing tools, more structured dialogue and recognition of competitiveness gaps with third countries, while DG MARE outlines its multi‑year simplification agenda, stress‑tests and guidance on aquaculture administration, prompting criticism from MEPs about slow timelines and insufficient concrete legal changes.

In this chapter

1. Panel replies: need for real listening and urgent fixesJosé Basilio Otero Rodríguez
2. DG MARE response on simplification agenda and aquacultureCarmen Crespo Díaz

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Committee on Fisheries Ordinary meeting

MEPs’ questions: bureaucracy, CFP reform, funding

Carmen Crespo Díaz and 12 others

Group coordinators and other MEPs probe where implementation blockages lie between EU and national levels, how MFF and EMFAF revisions could genuinely reduce red tape, what to do about import dependence and stagnating EU aquaculture, and whether to pursue a targeted CFP simplification omnibus or a broader reform, with a particular focus on small-scale, crustacean and coastal sectors.

In this chapter

1. Coordinators’ questions: blockages, MFF and aquaculture dataCarmen Crespo Díaz
2. Further MEP interventions: bureaucracy impacts, recognition and importsAna Miranda Paz
3. MEPs press for fisheries omnibus and CFP reform scopeBert-Jan Ruissen

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Committee on Fisheries Ordinary meeting

Public hearing: sector diagnosis and simplification demands

Carmen Crespo Díaz and 5 others

The chair launches the CFP-related public hearing on bureaucracy and competitiveness, followed by industry and small-scale representatives detailing structural weaknesses, regulatory overload and concrete simplification needs across capture fisheries and aquaculture, including criticism of the landing obligation, control rules, licensing and TAC procedures, and calls for an EU-level framework that better balances sustainability with socio‑economic viability.

In this chapter

1. Introduction to public hearing on bureaucracy and competitivenessCarmen Crespo Díaz
2. Otero (Spanish cofradías): sector diagnosis and CFP critiqueJosé Basilio Otero Rodríguez
3. Otero: regulatory overload, landing obligation and closuresJosé Basilio Otero Rodríguez

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Committee on Fisheries Ordinary meeting

Opening, agenda and fisheries votes

Carmen Crespo Díaz PPE

The committee chair opens the meeting, organises internal matters and adopts the agenda before holding key votes on the regulation for European fisheries and aquaculture statistics and on incorporating RFMO measures into Union law, thereby closing the decision-making part of the session.

In this chapter

1. Opening of meeting, farewell and agenda adoptionCarmen Crespo Díaz
2. Votes: fisheries statistics and RFMO implementationCarmen Crespo Díaz

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