Ixone Soroa: “A thorough review of the Common Fisheries Policy is necessary to improve its effectiveness and address the challenges of fishing and aquaculture”

• The Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Basque Government participated in the meeting of the Fisheries Group of the Committee of Peripheral Marine Regions of the European Union in Brussels.
• “The renewal of the sustainable fishing protocol with the Ivory Coast is urgently needed, as it is important for the Basque deep-sea tuna fleet operating from Abidjan and for local communities.”
• “Blue protein is essential to guarantee Europe's independence from third countries that fail to comply with European standards regarding labor and sustainability.”

Brussels, April 11, 2025

Mrs Ixone Soroa, Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Basque Government, participated this week in the meeting of the Fisheries Group of the Committee of Peripheral Marine Regions (CPMR) held in Brussels and stated that “European peripheral countries agree on the need for a thorough review.” of the Common Fisheries Policy to improve its effectiveness and address challenges in fisheries and aquaculture." The group analyzed the development strategy within the so-called level playing field of the European fisheries market.

The working group, chaired by Mr Alfonso Villares, Minister of the Sea of ​​the Galician Regional Government, discussed the exchange of views on the European Commission's public consultation on the basic regulation of the Common Fisheries Policy and the Governance of the CPMR Fisheries Working Group, which will set the thematic priorities for 2025, the draft work plan, and the handover of the Group's Presidency.

“During the meeting of the CPMR Fisheries Working Group, which included, in addition to the Basque Country and Galicia, which chairs it, Catalonia, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, and Occitania, the contributions to the public consultation launched by the European Commission on the functioning of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) were reviewed,” explains Soroa.

The evaluation process for the current Common Fisheries Policy began in June 2024 and, to date, has received 89 contributions from different countries, regions, stakeholders, fishing organizations, and interest groups.

All those attending the meeting unanimously pointed out the “need to carry out a thorough review of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) to improve its governance and effectiveness and address current and emerging challenges affecting the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.”