The Commissioner met with Federpesca Director Francesca Biondo and colleagues from the Federpesca office in Brussels.
This morning in Brussels, the European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, held his first meeting with Italian representatives of the sector following the publication of the proposed regulation on fishing opportunities for 2026. For the occasion, the Commissioner met with Federpesca Director Francesca Biondo and colleagues from the Federpesca office in Brussels.
At the heart of the discussion: the proposed regulation on fishing opportunities for 2026, the situation of the Italian fleet, the need to launch a concrete plan for fleet renewal, the issue of generational turnover and access to credit, as well as growing unfair competition in the Mediterranean and concerns over the proposed single European fishing fund starting in 2028.
"We explained to the Commissioner that the European Commission's proposal on fishing opportunities for the Mediterranean for 2026 is unsustainable for the Italian fleet," stated Francesca Biondo. "There are many reasons for this: unprecedented reductions in fishing days, a lack of recognition for the efforts already made by the sector, measures based on a distorted definition of fishing effort, and environmentally 'pure' but economically devastating interventions. This is a recipe we firmly rejected."
The Director also expressed satisfaction with the Commissioner's openness in questioning the current definition of a fishing day, proposing to count only days when there is actual pressure on fish stocks, thus excluding periods of return to port or simple navigation.
"Without amending this definition, any further intervention will be an ineffective patch that will not reverse the negative trend of recent years, characterized by a drastic decline in the fleet and unprecedented social and economic consequences, which are leading the Italian sector toward a foregone conclusion. Companies are not asking to fish more days than in the past, but to be treated with respect, measuring actual fishing effort rather than that assumed for precautionary reasons," added Francesca Biondo.
The meeting also addressed the need for a European fleet modernization strategy, supported by adequate financial instruments and free from the false dichotomy between economic competitiveness and environmental sustainability.
"We emphasized to the Commissioner that, without a European policy that allows for fleet renewal, no sustainability, safety, or efficiency objectives can be achieved. Only a modern fleet can guarantee high standards and make the sector attractive to young people, who are currently turning away from this profession," explained the Federpesca director.
Commissioner Kadis confirmed that the Commission is working in this direction, also with the support of the European Investment Bank, and that the issue will be discussed in the next European programming period.
"Ahead of the Agrifish Council in mid-December, we hope for a more realistic and less punitive position from the Commission, trusting in Minister Lollobrigida's commitment to protecting our sector," concluded Francesca Biondo.
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