The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, at the headquarters of the ministry
Planas discussed the challenges facing the fisheries sector with the French Minister for Ecological Transition, Biodiversity, Forests, Sea and Fisheries, Agnès Pannier-Runacher. Via an audio conference, both have agreed to undertake changes in EU policies to secure the future of fisheries in the Mediterranean.
The two ministers agreed on the need to amend the Multiannual Management Plan for the Western Mediterranean in order to ensure greater legal certainty and economic predictability for the fishing fleet.
Among other measures, Minister Planas will propose the necessary revision of scientific advice procedures to take into account the specific conservation objectives and measures inherent to the mixed nature of Mediterranean fisheries.
EU-United Kingdom trade and cooperation agreement
The two ministers also discussed the agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom. In 2026, the adjustment period with the UK, the third country after its exit from the EU, comes to an end, and annual consultations were held to establish joint and sustainable management of around 100 shared fish stocks in EU and UK waters.
In this regard, both ministers agreed on the need for a stable and predictable long-term framework for access to these waters, which respects the rights of fishing fleets that have historically accessed British waters.
To this end, Spain and France have established the priority of continuing with unity of the eight Member States (Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Spain) involved. Likewise, fisheries should continue to be a political priority of the agreement in the negotiations related to the end of the transitional period.
On the other hand, in relation to the United Nations Conference on Oceans, which will be held in Nice from 9 to 13 June this year, Planas and Pannier-Runacher have agreed that the two countries will work together to define the fisheries content of the conference.
Non official translation