Common Fisheries Policy evaluation

The ministers shared their views on the Common Fisheries Policy evaluation drawn up by the European Commission. The discussion focused primarily on the effectiveness of this policy in creating secure and attractive working conditions to support attracting young people to the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.

The need for creating secure and predictable sector operation framework guaranteeing stable income was highlighted, as a precondition for participation and self-fulfilment of young people in working this difficult and demanding sector.

The participants of the discussion indication that the incentive for young people to engage in work in such demanding sector will include prospective income and legal stability. Also innovation, fleet modernisation, simplification and automation of processes – supported by the EU funding – are of importance.  

The debate participants agreed that legal framework should guarantee financial stability and predictability to the fishermen. Since the greatest difficulty for the fishermen lies in fulfilling the landing obligation, the functioning of the sector should be simplified.

The European Commission indicated that fisheries and aquaculture may be supported from the European Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund. The authority has also given the Member States a space to design their own country-specific solutions for the sector under the multiannual financial framework.

A particular attention was drawn to generational renewal – by aligning the EU legal framework and creating the conditions to encourage young people to start business in this area.

–  Generational renewal is one of the most important challenges faced by the European fisheries and aquaculture. If young people are to see their future in this sector, we must guarantee them stable and predictable business conditions, reduce administrative barriers and create secure and attractive jobs – emphasized Deputy Minister Czerniak.

The activities to improve safety and working conditions in the fish and seafood sector as a whole were also discussed.

Sector competitiveness after 2028

The future instruments and activities that would support the economic competitiveness of the sector after 2028 and take into account the experiences and solutions applied in other areas of the economy were one of the highlights in the discussion.

The Ministers stressed the key importance of stable and predictable legal framework, relevant financial support and investments in innovation and cutting-edge technologies. They agreed that such approach is necessary to boost the sector resilience to future challenges.

– Only a profitable, crisis-resilient and economically attractive sector will be able to both attract the new generation of fishermen and ensure food safety of the European Union – added the Secretary of State Jacek Czerniak.