Debate Fisheries and Coastal Communities

So I welcome now Costascades who is commissioner for fisheries and oceans and we already have a reporter on stage and dear commissioner thank you very much for accepting our invitation and when you are ready I would give you the floor. >> Thank you madame president. Honorable members of the committee of regions, I would like first to thank you for your kind invitation uh to discuss with you the draft opinion of the MFF 2028 to 2034 proposal uh for the common fisheries policy, the European Ocean Pact, and the EU's maritime and aquaculture policy. This is a pivotal moment and I welcome the chance to exchange views on how the EU can best support these sectors in the next budget cycle. The commission's MFF proposal introduces greater greater flexibility giving member states more autonomy in allocating funds. This has sparked important debates among the co legislators as they finalize their proposals. The MFF must support our sectors and the ocean pact. But this requires both political will and sufficient funding particularly at the regional and national level. Local and regional authorities are key players in designing, implementing and monitoring fisheries, aquaculture and maritime policies. Your expertise in economic development, special planning, innovation and training makes your input essential in shaping the next long-term budget. Your opinion comes at a critical juncture. The council recently reached a partial general appro approach on the NRP regulation. Although unfortunately no partial general approach could be found found yet on the sectoral proposal concerning the union support to the common fisheries policy, the European ocean pact and the union maritime and aquaculture policy. The MFFF 2028 2034 represents a profound transformation of the EU budget focusing on integration, effectiveness and regional needs. Our proposal includes national and regional partnership plans as the first pillar ensuring tailored support for union priorities while respecting subsidiarity. The NRP plans will include regional and sectoral chapters ensuring that measures will be tailored to local specificities in full respect of subsidiarity and proportionality. I would like to underline that regions will continue to exchange directly with the commission during the next programming period. The next MFFF support to our sectors could potentially exceed the 2021 to 2027 MFA budget, but member states must make strategic choices to maximize available funds. I regularly hear the criticism that the fisheries budget has been cut by twothirds from 6 billion to€2 billion euro. The publication of one new of the new negotiation proposal by the council with revised figures includes a proposed increase of the ringfest amount of the CFP activities from 2 billion to4 billion euro. The minimum reinforced amount is reserved for spec for spending to implement some areas of the common fisheries policy and cannot be redirected for other purposes. However, it can and should be increased by the member states by drawing from the pot of 453 billion euros in their national plans which can be allocated according to the member states priorities to support additional needs such as measures in favor of their fishery and aqua and aquaculture sectors of their coastal communities their blue economy economy and the ocean at large. In that respect, as per the text of the NRP regulation, member states will have to finance data collection and control expenses from the overall pot outside the ring infested amount. I agree with you that it is important to prioritize funding for fleet modernization and renewal, innovation in fishing gear, and generational renewal. A key shift in the in the delivery model is that payments will be conditional on achieving milestones and targets with fewer eligibility rules. This empowers member states and regions to design measures align with their needs, maximizing support across funds. The do not significant harm principle will apply to the entire EU budget, ensuring no funding undermines environmental objectives. Overall, this new model focused on results, simplification, and high union added value will benefit our sectors. Moving to our most recent and upcoming initiatives, the common fishes policy evaluation that we concluded in April highlights areas for improvement. While not all issues require legislative changes, we will act where necessary to ensure resilient and sustainable business models. This autumn, we will publish a communication on the vision for fisheries and aquaculture towards 2040, setting a 15-year strategic framework for competitive, innovative, and sustainable sectors. Dear members, a year ago we launched the European Ocean Pact, bringing together all ocean related policies from fisheries to biodiversity, water management to the blue economy under one single coherent approach. From day one after the adoption of the pact, we are working at full speed to implement its 90 policy initiatives and actions. For example, on the 10th of June, we adopted the EU strategy for coastal communities alongside the EU strategy for islands. The strategy focuses on supporting coastal communities at three levels. prosperity, resilience and livability supported by 13 flagship actions. It was presented together with the strategy for islands last week in Cyprus under the Criot presidency. Implementation will involve multi-level governance. This strategy also ensures coastal needs are reflected in the next MFFF. Honorable members, your contributions are crucial as the MFF negotiations progress. I look forward to our continued constructive cooperation on fisheries, aquaculture and ocean policies and I thank you very much for your support and of course for your attention. Thank you >> dear commissioner. Thank you very much for the cooperation. and we really appreciate it and I I mean you already mentioned a lot of things that uh is very interesting for our members. It really reflects on that you are following the work and the anxieties of cities and regions. Thank you very much for that. I will give now the floor to the reporter Foreulturomic environmental cultural competence exclusive European Fore! Foreign! Foreign! Modernized. Superior. ctors. Global Europe Extreme modest nationaliz. for effective. for the development in economy Forefore Mr. Madame President, Commission I'll give first the floor to the representatives of political groups and then to the members first. The floor goes to Fernando Lopez Midas. [clears throat] econom. territory. Fore! Foreign! Foreign! The floor goes to breed Murphy. >> President, Commissioner Rapaturur and members, I'm delighted to speak today as a representative from the EP, but also Ireland on the day we take up the presidency of the Council of the European Union. As a counselor from County Wexford in the southeast of Ireland, I represent a coastal community. I see firsthand the vital role that fishing and the wider seafood sector play in sustaining our coastal towns and villages. Fishing supports families, local businesses and entire communities. It is also a proud part of our identity and maritime history. The proposed replacement of the dedicated European maritime fisheries and aquaculture fund with a broader national and regional partnership fund must not weaken support for fisheries. Europe's fishermen need dedicated accessible and reliable support. Without strong safeguards, there is a real risk that funding will be diluted by competing priorities. We all recognize the importance of protecting marine biodiversity and restoring fish stocks. But lasting solutions will only be achieved by working with fishermen, not around them. The people who make their living at sea bring knowledge and expertise that should help shape the future of European fisheries. From an Irish perspective, Brexit continues to cast a long shadow. Irish fishing communities have borne a disproportionate share of the impact through quotota losses and changing trading conditions. European solidarity must be reflected in future fisheries policy and funding. Europe's coastal communities are asking for fairness, recognition, and the opportunity to continue contributing to Europe's food security and economy. As policy makers, we have a responsibility to ensure these commitments can these communities can fulfill their potential and thrive. Gmahush. >> Thank you. The floor goes now to Luigi Girard. Madame President Europe territo Ultramaridapulture. Fore territorial obligator. Foreulture. respect university. Security.ch. Mercy, mercy. [applause] Foreign speech. Foreign speech. Foreign speech. politeness. Foreign speech. Foreign speech. Foreign speech. Fore! Foreign! Foreign! foreignch. forinn. forces. represent. Europe roamari. for Australude. >> [applause] >> Declan McDonald. [applause] >> Welcome, Commissioner Katis. The European Alliance Group strongly welcomes the EU coastal community strategy recently launched which puts people and place at the heart of EU policy and it secures a sustainable future for the next generation. European coastal communities face significant challenges from climate change and demographic decline to economic transition. At the same time, they are key drivers of the blue economy, food production, and European maritime identity. Our policies must help these communities remain vibrant, resilient, and attractive places to live and work. I come from Goa which is a coastal city on the west coast of Ireland which embodies much of what your strategy seeks to preserve a strong economy a sense of community traditions and language. To this end we will organize a meeting of our group in September to discuss how to preserve cities, towns and rural areas in coastal areas. We'll send you an invite to participate in this meeting. From our perspective, the strategy is not only about preserving coastlines, but about protecting homes, jobs, local traditions, and the way of life. It can help deliver funding for a stronger coastal defenses, better infrastructure, and the prot and the protection of important maritime and natural habitats. It also supports sustainable industries such as fishing, tourism, and maritime enterprise, which many of our communities depend on. This ambition must be reflected on the next MFF. We need dedicated and adequate funding for fisheries and coastal development to strengthen European's food security, strategic autonomy and the resilience of coastal regions. Finally, the strategy must be genuinely placed. Local and region authorities are closest to the coastal communities and should pay central role in shaping and deliver the policies that affect them. One sizefits-all situations can meet the need of European diverse coastlines. As we begin the pres the Irish presidency of the council of Europe, I wish to reflect on the motto. There is no strength without unity. Let us deliver on a united policy for our coastal communities. Foreign speech. Foreign speech. Foreign speech. for the first of status. Austral It's how Jesus Gamayo. Simultaneous territorial polit And the last speaker is Maria Isabelia. for a tablet. for much gracias and I'm closing now the debate and I give back the floor to the commissioner for reaction. >> Thank you uh honorable members. Thank you very much for this very interesting debate. We have taken well note of your remarks and the messages that you wanted to send to us have been well received. Uh let me reassure you that all our policy initiatives will ensure that in line with the partnership principle, regional and local authorities continue to play a crucial role in the design and implementation of supporting measures. The NRPPs will allow for regional chapters which can be used by member states and regions to fully consider regional specificities. The commission will assess the arrangements in place as part of the PL's validation procedure. And once again, the support available to our sectors under the next MFF has the potential to go beyond the current programming period depending on strategic choices made by me made by member states. Our proposal recognizes fisheries and aquaculture are vital for the EU's food sovereignty, coastal livelihoods and strategic autonomy. Actually, the priorities of the common fisheries policy and the European Ocean Pact are well reflected in all three main pillars of the new MFF proposal. And let me clarify that data gathering and control uh activities are not included in the ring fence amount are not covered by the ring fence amount. So additional funding will be available for these activities. Uh moreover, the national plans will be evaluated by the European Commission which will make sure that these plans um cover the needs of our policies and provide adequate support to our sectors. um the energy transition of the fisheries and aquaculture sector, the modernization of our sector, the modernization and renewal and the decarbonization of the fleet. Um and that will contribute to generational renewal. uh the support to small-scale fishes simplification all these will be at the center of our attention in our next steps after the valuation of the common fisherous policies. At the same time, we need to take care of our marine environment because in a healthy environment, if we don't have a healthy environment, there is no fish and if there is no fish, there are no fishes. And I'm concluding um underlining that cooperation between European, national and regional levels will be a key to an impactful long-term budget supporting the sustainability, the resilience and the competitiveness of our sector. So, thank you once again very much and I'm looking forward to our continued constructive exchanges and cooperation. Thank you so much and uh we look forward to this cooperation.