This week, the MAC participated in two days of meetings between the European Commission and the 11 Advisory Councils to coordinate on key fisheries and aquaculture policy matters.
Under a roundtable exchange with Commissioner Costas Kadis on the upcoming “Vision for EU fisheries for 2040”, the MAC representatives highlighted the following points:
· Coverage of the three pillars of sustainability
· Recognition of the health and environmental benefits of fishery and aquaculture products
· Recognition of the value chain as strategic for food security
· Ensuring a level-playing-field & trade with fair conditions
· Contribution to coastal and rural communities
· Generational renewal, attractiveness, and modernization
· Importance of public support and of a sectoral fund
· Impact of the recent crises on costs and consumption
· Stakeholder engagement, especially via the ACs
· Connection to other horizontal EU policies
DG MARE officials also provided an update on the ongoing evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy and on the preparation of the European Oceans Pact. Additionally, the ACs provided preliminary feedback on the upcoming communication on the external perspective of EU fisheries policy.
