Common Fisheries Policy 2028–2034
PURPOSE: to establish the conditions for implementing Union support for the Common Fisheries Policy, the European Pact for the Oceans and the Union's maritime and aquaculture policy within the framework of the National and Regional Partnership Fund defined by the Regulation establishing the National and Regional Partnership Fund (NRP) for the period 2028-2034.
PROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council.
ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.
BACKGROUND: on 16 July 2025, the Commission adopted a proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034 (MFF) for the period 2028-2034. This includes support to the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy, to the European Ocean Pact and to the Union’s maritime and aquaculture policy as part of the National and Regional Partnership Fund.
The National and Regional Partnership Fund should contribute to achieving the environmental, economic, social and employment objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), as well as to the activities provided for in the European Oceans Deal. This support should ensure that fishing activities are sustainable in the long term and that they are managed in a manner consistent with the objectives set out in the CFP Regulation.
The Union's support will also contribute to the activities as set out in the European Ocean Pact and contribute to the Union's objective for ocean sustainability, the climate neutrality objective, the competitiveness and resilience of the European Union's fisheries and aquaculture sector, the competitiveness of the European blue economy, the resilience of coastal and island communities, as well as of the outermost regions, and the strengthening of ocean governance and observation.
CONTENT: the proposed regulation lays down specific conditions for the implementation of Union support for the activities provided for in the European Ocean Pact and for the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy for the period 2028-2034, in accordance with the general objectives set out in the Regulation establishing the National and Regional Partnership Fund (NRP).
According to the proposal, Member States will have to take into account in their National and Regional Partnership Plan (NRP):
- the specific needs of fisheries, aquaculture and coastal communities, and in particular artisanal coastal fishing;
- the contribution of fishing operations to environmental, economic and social sustainability and the balance between the fishing capacity of fleets and the available fishing opportunities;
- activities foreseen in the European Ocean Pact for the conservation and restoration of marine biological resources, the restoration of marine biodiversity, management and innovation in sustainable fisheries and aquaculture activities, drawing on innovative solutions produced by research and science, maritime security, the development of a competitive and sustainable blue economy, the protection and empowerment of coastal communities and islands and the promotion of regional maritime cooperation at sea basin level;
- support, in particular for the creation and strengthening of producer organisations, the implementation and application of marketing standards, the collection and dissemination of market data at the national level.
In order to encourage sustainable fishing practices, Member States should endeavour to grant preferential treatment to small-scale coastal fishing operators, through a maximum aid intensity rate of 100%.
The Common Fisheries Policy should be based on science-based decision-making, adequate controls and zero tolerance for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.