Today, EU fisheries ministers met at the AGRIFISH Council to discuss the future of the Common Fisheries Policy, following the European Commission’s recent evaluation, which concluded that the CFP remains fit for purpose. Ahead of the Council, EU Simplification Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis also announced that the Commission is preparing an omnibus proposal to simplify fisheries rules.

“The Common Fisheries Policy is not the problem. The real issue is that key rules have not been properly implemented or enforced for years,” said Bruno Nicoastrate, Senior Policy Officer at Seas At Risk. “Ministers are right to demand urgent action to support fishers, but that starts with Member States delivering on existing commitments. A fisheries Omnibus to deregulate will only accelerate the collapse of fish and fishers. Instead it should organise the transition to low-impact fisheries. 

Posted on: 22 June 2026