General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2027 - all sections

The Committee on Fisheries calls on the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following into its motion for a resolution:

1. Recalls the strategic role of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the economic, social and environmental importance of fisheries, aquaculture, processing and maritime affairs in ensuring food security, healthy and resilient marine ecosystems, and a sustainable and equitable blue economy; highlights the importance of aquatic food products in healthy diets, as products rich in protein and among the most sustainable animal protein sources, with a low-carbon footprint depending on the fishing or production method;

2. Recalls that fisheries, aquaculture and processing sectors are fundamental pillars of the economic, social and cultural fabric of Union coastal, island and outermost communities and that the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) remains a fundamental funding programme for fishers, aquaculture producers and the cohesion of those communities;

3. Notes that, according to the Commission’s 2027 estimates, the main fisheries-related budget lines, namely EMFAF, Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements, Regional Fisheries Management Organisations and the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA), amount to approximately EUR 1.016 billion in commitment appropriations, representing an increase of around 2.1 % compared to 2026, and EUR 1.222 billion in payment appropriations, representing an increase of around 10.7 % compared to 2026; stresses that this level must support the needs of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, including data collection, control, ocean governance, decarbonisation, biodiversity and coastal communities;

4. Calls on the Commission to simplify, streamline and facilitate access to EMFAF and other ocean-related funding instruments, especially for SMEs, small-scale fishers, aquaculture producers and producer organisations; stresses that simplification must reduce unnecessary administrative burden without weakening controls, eligibility safeguards or the objectives of the CFP;

5.Welcomes the European Ocean Pact, the Commission’s forthcoming Ocean Act and recent communications on islands and coastal communities, recalling the importance of thriving and sustainable fisheries and aquaculture sectors for coastal economies and healthy oceans, as well as the specific challenges faced by islands and coastal communities, including higher costs, accessibility gaps, climate vulnerability and demographic pressure; emphasises that ocean-related initiatives and strategies must be supported by specific and sufficient public funding, involve fishers, aquaculture producers, coastal communities and scientific bodies, and be followed by concrete instruments in the next MFF with the full involvement of local authorities.

6.Emphasises the importance of scientific data, including social, environmental and economic marine-related data, to strengthen sustainable, resource-efficient and ecosystem-based fisheries management; calls for enhanced support from the Union and Member States for scientific institutions in the collection, monitoring and analysis of data and for investment in innovative selective and low-impact fishing technologies;

7.Stresses the importance of giving special and particular support to the small-scale and artisanal fishing fleet; reaffirms that improving safety, working conditions, energy efficiency, access to opportunities and environmental sustainability, including vessel modernisation or renewal where appropriate and under specific conditions, should contribute to generational renewal while preventing overcapacity and overfishing;

8.Stresses that climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss and the increased presence of new alien predatory species have negative consequences on marine ecosystems and the fishing sector; calls for adequate financial support, including rapid and flexible support in cases of climate, environmental or market crises affecting fishers and aquaculture producers;

9.Calls on the Commission and the Member States to improve sustainable Union aquaculture production by addressing the bottlenecks and constraints identified and reducing dependence on imports from third countries; stresses that appropriate use of EMFAF funds can help diversify and increase Union aquaculture production and support supplementary activities such as pescatourism, while contributing to gender equality and generational renewal;

10.Calls for targeted funding for research, development and deployment of low-emission propulsion systems adapted to different fleet segments and gear types, in order to reduce emissions and dependency on fossil fuels, including the necessary infrastructure adaptations in Union ports;

11.Stresses that adequately funded training, in particular for young and new fishers, and a skilled and diverse workforce are key for achieving generational renewal, including gender equality; calls for a New Generations for the Ocean approach, supporting technical, entrepreneurial, digital and safety training, start-up incentives and access to the sector for young fishers and aquaculture entrepreneurs;

12.Reiterates the need for dedicated financial support to coastal communities, islands and outermost regions, including proper compensation for additional costs for fishery and aquaculture products; calls for administrative simplification, dedicated one-stop shops and measures eliminating administrative and financial barriers faced by small-scale fisheries producer organisations.

The rapporteur for opinion declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not include in his opinion input from interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register, or from representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies, to be listed in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.