Europeche

Representatives of the European blue economy value chain met yesterday with Commissioner Costas Kadis, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, to discuss the forthcoming Roadmap for the Energy Transition of Fisheries. The meeting brought together SEA Europe, Europêche, Copa-Cogeca, the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) and the European Association of Fish Producers’ Organisations (EAPO), representing fishers and aquaculture producers, producers’ organisations, cooperatives, workers, shipyards and maritime equipment manufacturers. The organisations reaffirmed their full commitment to the decarbonisation and long-term sustainability of blue economy sectors, while stressing that progress is currently being held back by EU regulatory constraints, limited access to finance and insufficient investment certainty.

Yesterday, EPP MEP Isabelle Le Callennec, with Europêche’s collaboration, successfully hosted Competitive Blue Tech for Sustainable High Seas Fisheries at the European Parliament. Mr. Polyvios Eliofotou, member of the cabinet of Costas Kadis, Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, also introduced the event. Le Callennec was positive that thanks to this event, fisheries and their stakeholders were able to demonstrate their involvement in blue technological and industrial innovation at a critical moment: the EU Clean Industrial Deal is still to be shaped and the European Oceans Pact will be key in the discussions in Nice, at the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (9-13 June 2025).

Europeche

In a public hearing organized by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Tim Heddema, Vice-President of Europêche, emphasized the importance of keeping fisheries at the heart of the EU's vision for the oceans. The sector’s representative highlighted fisheries’ vital contributions to EU food sovereignty, healthy diets, coastal community livelihoods and marine ecosystem stewardship, urging the EU to prioritize and strengthen these roles in the EU Oceans Pact. This political initiative launched by President von der Leyen, is set to be presented at the 3rd UN Ocean Conference in June 2025.