Last week, the EU commissioner-designate for fisheries and oceans, Costas Kadis, faced the fisheries committee of the European Parliament in his confirmation hearing. Mr. Kadis, former minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment of Cyprus, is a biologist and currently a professor in biodiversity conservation.
In his mission letter, the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, asked him to ensure the “long-term competitiveness and sustainability” of the fisheries sector and to “complete and follow up the evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy”, a process that was started by his predecessor. Additionally, Mr. Kadis has been commissioned to present a “European Ocean Pact”, a “framework of coherence across all policies linked to the oceans,” to be designed in a “collaborative and inclusive” way, through “Fisheries and Oceans Dialogues”. This, and an enigmatic and ambitious “EU Ocean Diplomacy”, will have to meet a tight deadline, to be delivered by June 2025 at the UN Ocean conference, where the EU is to “lead the way”.
One response to fit all questions: the ongoing CFP evaluation
During the 3-hour hearing, MEPs focused mostly on issues related to the social and the environmental challenges that the EU fishing sector faces. They, for example, raised questions on the lack of transparency and unfair allocation of quotas for small-scale fishers, and called for an effective implementation of article 17 of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), which calls for Member States to use transparent and objective criteria, including those of an environmental, social, and economic nature, when allocating fishing opportunities.
In his answers, Mr. Kadis systematically referred to the on-going CFP evaluation. On the possibility of re-opening the CFP: “We want to build on the positive aspects of the CFP because it has produced positive results, and address any weaknesses that will be pointed out in the evaluation”. On the implementation of article 17: “The evaluation will take into consideration the views of all stakeholders”. On the landing obligation: “After the evaluation, we will have all the information we need so we can take the best decisions.”
The EU Ocean Diplomacy: work in progress
After the more specific questions, MEPs wanted to clarify what is Mr. Kadis’ interpretation of EU Ocean Pact. He clarified that it will be “the strategic framework under which all ocean policies will be placed. It will facilitate coordination between different policies and activities.” For him, the CFP will be placed under this Pact, as fisheries are “affected by other ocean policies.”
MEPs Wiesner, Lövin and Bajada questioned how this pact would streamline all ocean policies if it did not have a legal basis. Mr. Kadis pointed at the current “ambitious” legislation and its implementation, which is more urgent: “Coordination and the holistic approach are the key elements of the Ocean Pact […]. If we have to fine-tune the legislation, we can discuss about this later on”. Mr. Kadis committed that this Pact will be presented “at the UN Ocean conference as a model of good governance and coherence and more sustainable management of our oceans.”
MEPs Lövin, Wiesner and Bajada asked clarification regarding the legal basis for the EU Ocean Pact, the strategic framework for all EU Ocean policies: “How will you ensure we do not continue working in silos?” © European Union 2024 - Source : EP, by Philippe BUISSIN.
Although Mr. Kadis did not clarify what his understanding is for an EU Ocean Diplomacy, he did give a few hints in his written answers. The idea behind this diplomacy is that the EU continues to have a “leading role in setting the ocean agenda at global level, ensuring a fair, sustainable and secure use of the ocean space and its resources,” with the ratification of the BBNJ treaty (Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction) as a first priority.
The designate Commissioner also insisted on the importance of the competitiveness of the sector. Apart from several measures he envisions for the EU sector internally, he briefly touched on the external dimension of the CFP. For him, the position of the EU with regards to third countries also matters, and he said he would leverage “the power of the internal market”: “Improving competitiveness also means taking action about the way we trade with third countries.” And he noted that IUU regulations need to be incorporated into various trade and commercial agreements “to deal immediately with unfair competition”. “I want us to achieve a better level playing field by promoting the EU standards in all international forums,” he also added.
Mr. Kadis will take on the same approach as his predecessor with regards to IUU fishing. The Commissioner-Designate repeated Sinkeviçius’ motto in his initial address: “I will have a 0-tolerance approach to IUU fishing”. He further responded to MEP Camara’s question regarding the illegal activities of EU-owned vessels re-flagged to third countries: “if some irresponsible actors are taking advantage in order to operate unlawfully, I am willing to take action in order to stop these unlawful activities.”
A profit-focused blue economy?
Even though almost no MEPs referred to it, Mr. Kadis spoke about the “EU blue economy” and how to “leverage its enormous potential”. He added: “I want the fisheries sector also involved in the process.” On this, MEP Le Callennec asked how the Commissioner-designate would deal with conflicts arising from Marine Spatial Planning, he answered: “I do not think the right solution is to sideline profitable activities. We need to look at how to organize these activities in a way that minimizes their impact.” This approach differs from what small-scale fishers ask, which is to be protected from more powerful industries. For them, “the precautionary approach and transparency and effective participation of small-scale fisheries should guide any new ocean use.”
In his conclusion, the commissioner-designate summarized: “I have listened to your high hopes for an Ocean Pact and a holistic approach for our ocean, for the European Union’s continued leadership in global ocean diplomacy and for leveraging the enormous potential of our blue economy.” PECH committee backed him as the future commissioner for fisheries and the oceans. Based on the committee recommendations, the Conference of Presidents will conduct the final evaluation and declare the hearings closed on 21 November. The election by MEPs of the full college of Commissioners (by a majority of the votes cast, by roll-call) will take place during the next plenary session in Strasburg, scheduled for the 25-28 November.
Banner photo: The Commissioner-designate, Costas Kadis, greets the Chair of PECH committee, Carmen Crespo Díaz. © European Union 2024 - Source : EP, by Laurie DIEFFEMBACQ.
Closing the funding gap for biodiversity conservation is one of the critical topics at COP 16 in October 2024. The funding gap has been estimated at $700 billion in Goal D of the Kunming-Montreal Agreement, based on a report, “Financing Nature”, published in 2020. Taking the example of fisheries and ocean conservation, this article shows the $700 billion figure is based on highly dubious calculations and assumptions. The author argues the funding gap report is not a serious effort to estimate the needs for supporting conservation efforts. Therefore, the $700 billion figure should be rejected by those opposed to the continuing financialisation of conservation.