Press remarks by Executive Vice-President Fitto and Commissioner Kadis on Vision 2040 for a thriving fisheries and aquaculture sector

Executive Vice-President Fitto

Good afternoon everyone,

Today, the Commission approved the Vision 2040 for Fisheries and Aquaculture, including the EU Strategy for Fisheries External Action and the Energy Transition Roadmap.

First of all, I would like to thank Commissioner Kadis for the excellent work we have done together in preparing this important initiative.

The Vision sets out a long-term perspective, with concrete actions to support modernisation, innovation, generational renewal and the competitiveness of this sector.

Commissioner Kadis will present the package in greater detail.

I would like to focus on its broader strategic significance, particularly its territorial and geopolitical dimensions.

Fisheries and aquaculture are not only economic activities. They are essential to the identity, prosperity and the future of many European territories.

For our islands, coastal communities and outermost regions, this sector represents an important source of employment, economic and social cohesion.

Yet, this sector is facing particular difficulties such as falling stocks, high fuel prices, old fleet, generational renewal and uncertainty about the future of the profession.

These are even more acute for small-scale fishers.

Our objective is to create the conditions for people, especially young people, to build their future in these territories.

This means investment, better working conditions, new skills, innovation and economic opportunities.

It means ensuring that people can enjoy their Right to Stay, working and living where they feel at home.

Aquaculture and fisheries, face their own difficulties, but also share broader challenges: demographic change, climate pressures, technological transformation and global competition.

We need to address these common challenges while recognising territorial differences.

This is why the Vision recognises the important role of Member States, regional authorities and local communities in translating European priorities into concrete actions.

The second dimension I want to underline is the geopolitical importance of this initiative, which goes far beyond trade.

It concerns access to our and global resources, the sustainable management of shared fish stocks, international partnerships and global ocean governance.

Supporting our islands, coastal communities and outermost regions means strengthening Europe's competitiveness, security and strategic position in the world.

The Vision 2040 is part of a wider effort by this Commission to connect our sectoral policies with our territorial and strategic priorities.

Thank you.

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Commissioner Kadis

Good afternoon,

Following up on what Executive Vice-President Fitto has just said, let me take you to the real added value of this Vision 2040 for our fisheries and aquaculture sectors.

We are dealing with two critical sectors that put locally produced food on our tables. They are very critical and important for our food security.

They sustain coastal and rural economies and define the identity of hundreds of European communities.

However, these sector face increasing challenges. Climate change, volatile energy costs, competition for maritime space and geopolitical pressures are testing its resilience. Declining stocks, low profitability, ageing fleets and workforces, and limited aquaculture growth, demand action.  

This has been made clear through my discussions with fishers and aquaculture producers across the European Union. But also with Member States and the European Parliament. They all expect from us concrete action to address these very concrete problems and give hope for the future.

Today's package brings together three elements:

• The Vision 2040, which sets a strategic direction.
• The Energy Transition Roadmap, providing a realistic, affordable and socially fair pathway for the sectors to gradually move away from fossil fuels, and
• The Strategy for Fisheries External Action, advancing global sustainability and fair competition.

The Vision rests on three interconnected pillars: supply, demand and the conditions for success.

On supply, we aim to strengthen business viability through healthy stocks, modernisation, innovation, and opportunities to diversify income.

On demand, we aim to promote a wider range of sustainable products, improve consumer information and transparency, and strengthen the value of EU production.

We have also identified five conditions for success:

The first one is about generation renewal. Nowadays the workforce in the fisheries sector is aging and there is limited interest from young people to enter the profession. Generational renewal requires profitable businesses, good working conditions, modern workplaces and the right skills. And the vision addresses these elements. In 2027, the Commission will present a Blue Generational Renewal Strategy to help attract and retain a new generation across the blue economy.

Second, is access to finance.

The transition will require significant investment.

Public funding will continue to have a strategic role, including under the next Multiannual Financial Framework. But public resources alone will not be enough.

We need to mobilise also private financing, including through de-risking instruments.

The Third, is the regulatory framework, the third condition for success is the regulatory framework. We need smart rules.

Following the evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy Regulation, we are exploring ways to address the weaknesses revealed. These are weaknesses communicated to me through my contacts with all key stakeholders.

As regards fisheries, the weaknesses identified include, in particular, the ineffectiveness of the landing obligation, the need for modernization and decarbonisation of the aging fishing fleet, the need for providing fair treatment and further support to small scale fishers, and the need to secure a level playing field and protect our sectors from unfair competition.

The Vision identifies the issues at stake and announces our intention to act. It proposes ways to address each of the key issues.

We have also listened to the calls to take action on aquaculture. The Commission will work on a legislative proposal to ensure a coherent and simplified regulatory legislative framework for aquaculture across the EU to unlock its full potential.

The Fourth condition for success is access to space.

We know that Maritime space is becoming increasingly crowded, with growing competition among the various activities in limited maritime space.

The Ocean Act, which is the legislative component of the European Ocean Pact, will built on the revision of the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive, and provide a clearer framework for maritime spatial planning and support a more coherent approach to the use of our seas.

The Fifth condition for success is research and innovation

The future of this sector will increasingly depend on its ability to understand change, innovate and adapt.

The upcoming Water and Ocean Research and innovation strategy will contribute to this direction.

Moreover, through our recently announced ocean observation initiative, OceanEye, through better ocean data and through stock monitoring we can support informed decisions.

Now a few words about the EU Strategy for fisheries external action.

We know that EU fisheries are deeply connected to the rest of the world: we fish outside the EU, and we depend on trade to meet our consumer's demand.

We need stronger EU external action that supports sustainability and level playing field.

First, by promoting sustainable global fisheries management, through multilateral cooperation in international and regional fora, anchored in the law of the sea (UNCLOS);

Second, by addressing overcapacity and unfair competition. We will focus on regulating harmful subsidies in the World Trade Organisation. And third, by upholding social responsibility. International labour standards in fisheries must be ratified and implemented by all nations, and we will support non-EU countries to match these standards.

Finally, as far as the energy transition roadmap is concerned, the transition will take place in two phases:

In the first phase, the focus will be on energy efficiency, research and innovation, and pilot projects and demonstrators.

The second phase will focus on scaling up proven low-emission technologies, alongside the necessary infrastructure, financing, and skills.

Dear friends, our destination is 2040.

But the decisions that will determine whether we get there start today.

Our objective is clear: healthy ecosystems, viable businesses, attractive careers and thriving coastal and rural communities.

This is the future we want for European fisheries and aquaculture. And this Vision provides the direction to build it.