What changed

MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

P10_TA(2026)0314

on theThe role of social, economic and environmental standards in safeguarding fair competition for all aquatic food products and improving food security

(2025/2010(INI))

Committee on Fisheries

PE770.111

European Parliament resolution of 17 September 2026 on the role of social, economic and environmental standards in safeguarding fair competition for all aquatic food products and improving food security (2025/2010(INI))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy1Policy (CFP),

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 July 2021 establishing the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund2Fund (EMFAF),

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2023/2842 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 November 2023 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, and amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1967/2006 and (EC) No 1005/2008 and Regulations (EU) 2016/1139, (EU) 2017/2403 and (EU) 2019/473 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards fisheries control3control (Fisheries Control Regulation),

– having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1184/2006 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 104/20004,104/2000,

– having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1026/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on certain measures for the purpose of the conservation of fish stocks in relation to countries allowing non-sustainable fishing5,fishing,

– having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 of 29 September 2008 establishing a Community system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, amending Regulations (EEC) No 2847/93, (EC) No 1936/2001 and (EC) No 601/2004 and repealing Regulations (EC) No 1093/94 and (EC) No 1447/1999 (IUU Regulation)6,Regulation),

– having regard to its resolution of 19 January 2023 on the small-scale fisheries situation in the EU and future perspectives7,perspectives,

– having regard to its resolution of 18 January 2024 on the impact of illegal fishing on food security – the role of the European Union8,Union,

– having regard to is resolution of 18 January 2024 on the implementation of the Common Market Organisation (CMO) Regulation in fisheries and aquaculture – Regulation (EU) No 1379/20139,1379/2013,

– having regard to its resolution of 18 January 2024 on the state of play in the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy and future perspectives10,perspectives,

– having regard to its resolution of 17 October 2023 on the implications of Chinese fishing operations on EU fisheries and the way forward11,forward,

– having regard to its resolution of 20 October 2021 on a farm to fork strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system12,system,

– having regard to its resolution of 16 September 2021 on Fishers for the future: Attracting a new generation of workers to the fishing industry and generating employment in coastal communities13,communities,

– having regard to the Commission communication of 12 May 2021 entitled ‘Strategic guidelines for a more sustainable and competitive EU aquaculture for the period 2021 to 2030’ (COM(2021)0236),

– having regard to Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU),

– having regard to the Commission communication of 3 May 2022 entitled ‘Putting people first, securing sustainable and inclusive growth, unlocking the potential of the EU’s outermost regions’ (COM(2022)0198) and its resolution of 13 June 2023 on the assessment of the new Commission communication on outermost regions14,regions,

– having regard to the Commission communication of 19 February 2025 entitled ‘A Vision for Agriculture and Food – Shaping together an attractive farming and agri-food sector for future generations’ (COM(2025)0075),

I. whereas aquatic food products, especially most wild-caught fish, are a source of high-quality protein with a low environmental footprint compared to many other protein sources; whereas particularly in the case of shellfish and seaweed farming the carbon footprint is especially low as they provide additional environmental benefits such as carbon capture and water purification;

✦ Formal Updates decimal separators and footnote markers in the recital on fleet figures, with no change to the figures themselves.

J. whereas in 2023 the EU fishing fleet numbered 70 280 vessels, of which 53 260 were still active in 2025; whereas engaged crew amounted to 119 479 fishers, corresponding to 73 974 full-time equivalents, marking a decline of around 2 % compared with 2022; whereas in 2023 the fleet landed 3.393,39 million tonnes of seafood valued at EUR 6.16,1 billion, representing a decrease of 2.62,6 % in volume and 12–1312-13 % in value compared to the previous year; whereas revenue in 2023 fell to EUR 6.476,47 billion (a decrease of 10.610,6 %) and net profit decreased sharply to EUR 59 million, down 61 % from 2022, resulting in a net profit margin of just 0.90,9 %; whereas these figures highlight a loss of structural, economic and strategic capacity, as well as fishing opportunities and fishing grounds, which must be urgently addressed to ensure the EU’s food sovereignty and the viability of the sector15;sector;

K. whereas aquatic food producers, including small-scale, artisanal fishers and shellfish gatherers and aquaculture producers and related sectors play a vital role for the society and for the communities they support;

N. whereas administrative procedures, such as licensing, spatial planning and other obligations in Member States and the EU, particularly on islands and in outermost regions, are generally stricter compared to certain non-EU countries that have trade relations with the EU and export products to the EU market;

✦ Formal Removes a footnote marker from the recital on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

O. whereas illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which may account for up to 19 % of global catches16,catches, presents serious threats to marine ecosystems, fish stocks and the livelihoods of fishing communities, thereby jeopardising food security and the sustainability of the sector and its professionals; whereas the EU has adopted a zero-tolerance approach to IUU fishing, both within its own waters and in non-EU countries; whereas this approach should guide the EU in relation to the requirements set out in the sustainable development chapters of its new generation of free trade agreements;

P. whereas women constitute approximately a quarter of the aquaculture workforce and around half of the workforce in the fish processing industry; whereas they also play a vital role in small-scale fisheries, contributing significantly to tasks such as fishing gear preparation and maintenance, transporting fish to auctions, sales, administration and logistics;

9. Stresses that, according to Article 17 of the CFP Regulation, the Member States must use transparent and objective criteria, including those of an environmental, social and economic nature, when allocating fishing opportunities; believes it is important that Member States take into account their different fleet segments, including the small-scale fishing segment, when setting their criteria; further highlights the need to adopt multiannual total allowable catches (TACs) and allocation of quotas as a principle, both for EU-only and shared stocks, ensuring fair distribution that provides stability and predictability for the sector; stresses the need to better support the diversification of the fishing fleet and the economic resilience of coastal communities, especially on islands and in outermost regions; calls, therefore, on the Commission and the Member States to set TACs in line with the best available scientific advice and Article 2 of the CFP Regulation; recalls the need to provide incentives to fishing vessels to use more selective fishing gear or use fishing techniques with reduced energy consumption or habitat impact;

✦ Formal Removes a footnote marker from the reference to the regulation on the implementation of Article 17 of the common fisheries policy.

10. Welcomes the Vademecum adopted by the Commission presenting best practices that Member States could use for allocating fishing opportunities in order to improve transparency, promote sustainable fishing, and highlight possibilities used by Member States to support different fleet segments, such as small-scale fisheries, as well as dedicated implementation dialogues; insists on the recommendations included in its resolution of 7 June 2022 on the implementation of Article 17 of the CFP Regulation17;Regulation;

Transparency, labelling and consumer information

20. Calls on the Commission to support reciprocity of standards, including the introduction of mirror measures in trade agreements concluded by the EU, in order to ensure level playing field in the fisheries and aquatic food sector – particularly in outermost, island, and coastal regions – thereby safeguarding the competitiveness of the EU sector and fair conditions for EU fishers; urges the Commission to speed up the works on how to improve trade agreements, ensuring sustainability of imported fisheries and aquaculture products, especially those under the ATQ regime;

✦ Formal Removes a footnote marker from the reference to the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive.

21. Calls on the Commission, alongside the Member States, to remain vigilant in ensuring that non-EU countries exporting fisheries and aquaculture products to the EU adhere to international standards, particularly those promoting decent working conditions; urges, furthermore, the timely implementation and rigorous enforcement of relevant regulations, including the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive18Directive and the Fisheries Control Regulation, to prevent the entry into the EU of products linked to a high risk of human rights abuses and/or IUU fishing, while, in line with WTO commitments, appropriately sanctioning businesses that violate these regulations and as a result threaten efforts to create a level playing field;

✦ Formal Removes a footnote marker from the reference to Regulation (EU) 2024/3015 on forced labour products.

22. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to fully implement Regulation (EU) 2024/3015 on the prohibition of products made with forced labour on the Union market19,market, in particular with regard to fishing and aquaculture products, and to promote the strengthening and harmonisation of import controls, enforcement regimes and sanctions across the Member States to ensure that products stemming from forced labour do not enter the EU market;

23. Emphasises the importance of strengthening traceability systems and notes that the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, as revised under the Omnibus package, should be implemented in a targeted, risk-based and proportionate manner;

43. Underlines the need to streamline administrative procedures for accessing EU funds in the new multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2028-2034, so that they can be more effectively accessed by all final beneficiaries, and to eliminate bureaucratic obstacles that hinder effective use of those funds, particularly by micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, which form the backbone of the fisheries and blue economy sectors in many EU coastal regions, islands and outermost regions; welcomes, in this regard, the Commission’s competitiveness compass, aimed at reducing red tape for businesses by at least 25 % in general, and by 35 % for SMEs, as well as its simplification efforts going beyond reporting obligations; urges the Commission and the Member States to provide adequate support to facilitate access to funding while also evaluating costs associated with fishing management measures, fishing ground closures, fiscal pressure, and bureaucratic inefficiencies, in order to improve the fisheries sector’s economic competitiveness; calls also on the Member States to increase investment in coastal communities and outermost regions by supporting the blue economy, enhancing education and upskilling opportunities, and optimising the use of EU funds;

✦ Formal Updates the decimal separator and removes a footnote marker in the paragraph on funding and investment estimates.

44. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure strong, easily accessible and clearly ring-fenced funding for the implementation of the CFP in the new MFF, with a view to providing support for the development of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors and their transition towards greater sustainability and competitiveness; stresses that such funding should also contribute to ensuring a fair standard of living for fishers and aquaculture farmers, enhance the sector’s attractiveness for a new generation, and strengthen its contribution to food security, while duly recognising the unique characteristics of fisheries and aquaculture; rejects, in this context, the proposed 67 % reduction in ring-fenced funding; recognises that the current EMFAF alone is insufficient to cover the substantial costs of modernising and renewing the EU’s fishing fleet and that significant investments, estimated at between EUR 10 billion and EUR 25.625,6 billion20,billion, are required to renew, modernise and decarbonise the fisheries sector, which small businesses cannot always afford through ordinary resources alone;

45. Underlines the importance of strengthening support for traditional and sustainable practices, ensuring proper financing for projects and measures contributing to that aim;

46. Calls for enhanced additional budget allocations aimed at tackling increases in operational costs, supporting implementation of the Fisheries Control Regulation, and addressing global competition, decarbonisation, fleet modernisation, generational renewal, digitalisation, and the adoption of more selective and sustainable practices; emphasises that the financial instrument should be applicable, flexible, accessible and tailored to the realities of the sector, allowing for investment in innovation, fleet renewal and modernisation, onboard welfare and productivity improvements; calls for an assessment of fishing capacity measurements to better reflect the operational reality by excluding spaces used as galleys, cabins, toilets and rest areas, which have no bearing on a vessel’s capacity to locate or catch fish; suggests the use of alternative methods such as ‘net tonnage’ to make rules fairer, improve crew welfare, and facilitate the modernisation of the fleet; calls also, therefore, on the Commission to swiftly remove regulatory and administrative barriers hindering vessel renewal;

✦ Formal Removes a footnote marker from the reference to Regulation (EU) 2023/2391 on de minimis aid.

47. Believes that an EU fleet renewal plan is crucial for a successful decarbonisation and transition to more sustainable fishing; calls on the Commission to consider raising the ceiling for de minimis aid for the fisheries, aquaculture and shellfish farming sectors, as provided for in Regulation (EU) 2023/239121,2023/2391, to support the adoption of low-emission technologies, sustainable renewal or adaptation of the fleet, and energy efficiency throughout the supply chain; notes, furthermore, that emissions or fuel used for fishing activities should not be taxed following an EU-level obligation until new propulsion technologies and carbon-neutral fuels are commercially available and accessible; urges the Commission to ensure that social and economic sustainability, especially for coastal artisanal fishing, are on an equal footing with environmental sustainability; considers, furthermore, that innovative practices must be developed with the full cooperation of the industry and believes that sub-state legislatures and governments with competencies in fisheries management have a crucial role to play in ensuring locally adapted and effective solutions; calls on the Commission to ensure that price shocks in fuel costs are mitigated for the sector;

Small-scale fisheries and outermost regions

✦ Formal Removes a footnote marker from the reference to the Fisheries POSEI Regulation.

48. Stresses that small-scale coastal fishing, particularly in island and outermost regions, is a cornerstone of the economic, social and cultural fabric of many local communities; calls, as a matter of priority, on the Member States to strengthen financial and policy support for traditional sustainable fisheries practices, small-scale and artisanal fisheries, as well as shellfish gatherers; recognises the need for specific measures and increased support for the outermost regions in order to support the sector in overcoming structural disadvantages and ensuring the viability of local fishing communities; encourages these regions and the respective Member States to use all possibilities under the CFP to allow for the necessary and better adaptation of rules and procedures to local specificities and realities; calls on the Commission to evaluate the possibility of re-establishing a programme of options specifically relating to remoteness and insularity, based on the so-called Fisheries POSEI Regulation22,Regulation, which is now integrated into the current EMFAF, in order to support the sector in overcoming structural disadvantages and ensuring the viability of local fishing communities;

49. Points out that in the outermost regions, investment in port and cold storage infrastructure is essential to guarantee the quality of aquatic food; highlights that enhancing inter-island logistics and improving connections to the mainland and broader markets will ensure that aquatic food reaches consumers promptly and in optimal condition; considers, furthermore, that supporting digital direct marketing platforms, such as by facilitating direct sales from fishers and aquacultures to consumers, can further promote local products;

50. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

The ocean provides a healthy, rich, safe, nutritious, high-quality source of protein, which is crucial for European food security, but also to many coastal communities and Outermost Regions, that depends on it for food and economic activities. The European Union (EU) is the world’s second-largest market for fisheries and aquaculture products, and within this context, the EU’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors are vital to ensure a low-carbon and sustainable aquatic food, while also playing a critical role in the EU’s food security and strategic autonomy. Nonetheless, the EU remains 70 % reliant on imports. The Niinistö report recognises food as one of the essential sectors that provide vital services to citizens and asserts that food security, safety, and sovereignty in the EU, are non-negotiable.

The EU’s fisheries sector has been impacted by various events, including Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the rising prices of fuel, among others.

As fishing opportunities have remained quite stable for some years, only a full use of the total allowable catches, a strong bet in aquaculture, and reducing food waste could increase the availability of European aquatic food.

To strengthen food security, competitiveness, and support responsible fishing, the EU must actively promote the consumption of sustainably sourced aquatic products. This is especially important given the growing interest in alternative protein sources, otherwise we risk overlooking the established nutritional value of fish in the European diet.

Unfair competition in the sector, especially from third countries, is intensified by social challenges, including contractual conditions and labour issues, and, at a substandard level, safety, hygiene, and working conditions aboard fishing vessels.

In environmental standards, equally critical for the level playing field, and EU should address the sustainable processing methods and gears, with the possibility to use biodegradable and more efficient and advanced ones, that minimise environmental impact and reduces the fuel consumption. Also sustainable fishing practices, such as reducing bycatches and protecting marine habitats. This is essential for the long-term viability of marine resources. IUU fishing remains a serious threat to marine ecosystems, fishing-dependent communities and fishing sector’s reputation and it should require from the EU a zero tolerance approach.

In the economic standards, consumer trends in 2024 indicated a decrease in overall consumption, with price emerging as the most significant factor (55%) influencing purchasing decisions for aquatic food, surpassing product appearance at 52 %. This is why we need to guarantee that all aquatic food products entering in the EU have to respect the same/equivalent standards then the ones we obliged our fishers and producers, in order to not push down the prices, leading the European fishers, producers, industry and enterprises to an unfair competition, but at the same time, safeguarding access to aquatic food and protect consumer health, ensuring efficient use of resources. Strengthening the customs controls in ports and airports and fully utilising, particularly to enhance traceability, the eCatch system outlined in the new Control Regulation, may contribute to the effort for not allowing the entrance in the EU of aquatic products that are not align with European standards, that leads to an unfair competition and artificially lowering prices. It is also essential to register all imports of fisheries products from non-cooperative countries, as this will facilitate the collection of retroactive duties and tariffs in the event of investigations.

To guarantee the high-quality level of aquatic food consumed in the EU, it is essential to incentivise the creation of a stamp to assure equivalent conditions of the European Quality Schemes for imported products, with information about the origin, wild catch or farmed product, the nutritive value, among other requirements.

In the internal market, the EU must promote the consumption of sustainable and/or certified European products, including processed items, and also cut the administrative burden, and complex licencing process to European aquaculture facilities, as this sector only represents 10 % of total consumption and has a possibility to grow. It is also crucial to reinforce the use of quality labels for products caught using artisanal and selective fishing gear and those sourced from small-scale fisheries, thereby highlighting the value of local and traceable products.

A final word to the outermost regions (ORs), as they face unique challenges outlined in Article 349 of the TFEU, and fishing is a major economic driver, contributing to food sovereignty and being an integral part of its culture. It generates jobs both at sea and in industry, while also supporting tourism, which is a key sector. However, fisheries and aquaculture in the ORs faces higher operational costs, including fuel, transport, vessel maintenance and renewal, market access, etc, and one of the solutions is to grant greater autonomy to the ORs article in EMFAF, re-establishing the POSEI – Fisheries, to ensure the competitiveness of the sector and their full integration and participation in the single market.