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DRAFT REPORT (2021/2169(INI))

On the state of play in the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy and future perspectives

PECH-PR-719724

Committee on Fisheries · Rapporteur: Gabriel Mato

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 15 Oct 2026

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A draft report on how the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) has been implemented and what should change. It says the CFP has focused too much on environmental goals at the expense of social, economic and food security aims, and asks for a re-balance. It asks the Commission to adapt the Maximum Sustainable Yield objective, to make the landing obligation more flexible and attractive, and to set total allowable catches only for main target stocks. It calls for adjusting relative stability, adapting structural policy for decarbonisation and safety, more flexible multiannual plans, and better use of Advisory Councils and scientific advice. It asks the Commission to defend EU fishing interests internationally, to require high standards for imported seafood, and to propose a POSEI programme for fisheries and aquaculture in the outermost regions.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes that the future CFP shift from rigid targets to pragmatic and achievable objectives, rebalance environmental, socioeconomic and food security aims, and give fisheries a higher place on the EU agenda.

Key points

  1. Recalls that the CFP must make fishing and aquaculture environmentally sustainable while delivering economic, social and employment benefits and contributing to food supplies.
  2. Regrets that since 2014 the CFP has focused mainly on environmental goals at the expense of socioeconomic and food security considerations, with negative impacts worsened by Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic and recent geopolitical developments.
  3. Supports strengthening the CFP's socioeconomic and food security dimensions and a level playing field internationally, and calls on the Commission to conduct full ex ante and ex post impact assessments before proposing strategies or legislation.
  4. Calls on the Commission and Council to value fisheries' contribution to food supplies more in policy-making, and stresses the strategic role of fishers in the food value chain.
  5. Considers that the Maximum Sustainable Yield objective should be implemented in light of practical reality and socioeconomic, proportionality and food security dimensions, and should be adapted in the CFP Basic Regulation.
  6. Says the landing obligation is not properly implemented and should be applied flexibly, its scope reviewed to limit choke species and complex derogations, and made more attractive through incentives; calls for alternatives to be proposed.
  7. Calls on the Commission and Council to set total allowable catches only for main target stocks, and for an assessment of relative stability with a view to adjusting it while preserving its basic tenets.
  8. Calls on the Commission to adapt structural policy to facilitate decarbonisation and improve safety and working conditions, including by using available gross tonnage and excluding social and safety tonnage from capacity calculations.
  9. Recognises the role of multiannual plans and calls for increased flexibility to take account of socioeconomic considerations and changing conditions, and for better regional implementation of the ecosystem approach.
  10. Recommends that fisheries be given more recognition within the Commission and that its fisheries services be adequately staffed; encourages Member States to use regional cooperation and stresses the role of Advisory Councils.
  11. Calls on the Commission to base all political and legislative initiatives on scientific, technical and economic advice and prior impact assessments, and to systematically inform Parliament about requests for advice.
  12. Calls on the Commission to promote the CFP internationally, ensure its objectives are integrated into EU positions in international forums, require high environmental and social standards for imported seafood, and propose a POSEI programme for fisheries and aquaculture in the outermost regions.

Who is affected

  • EU fishing fleets and operators, who would face adapted rules on catches, landing obligation and capacity.
  • The Commission, which is asked to carry out impact assessments, adapt proposals and defend EU interests internationally.
  • Member States, encouraged to use regional cooperation and participate in Advisory Council meetings.
  • Outermost regions, for which a POSEI programme and adapted guidelines are proposed.
  • Advisory Councils, which would gain a role in co-management and in contributing to scientific advice requests.

Figures and deadlines

  • since 2014, the period in which the CFP implementation is said to have focused mainly on environmental aspects
  • ‘for all stocks by 2020’, the Maximum Sustainable Yield target recalled as having evolved in regional multiannual plans
  • 18 May 2021, date of Parliament's resolution on the landing obligation
  • four decades ago, when relative stability was established
  • Article 18 of the CFP Basic Regulation, on regional cooperation
  • COM(2014)0545, the Commission guidelines on the balance between fishing capacity and fishing opportunities
  • 31 December 2022, the deadline for the Commission to report on the functioning of the CFP

Legal basis: Articles 3, 4, 5, 11, 38, 39, 43 and 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union