EU Fisheries Social Partners Meet Commissioner to Centre Fishers – The Fishing Daily

Report on the EU Fisheries Social Partners’ Meeting with Commissioner Kadis

Introduction: Aligning EU Fisheries with Sustainable Development Goals

A meeting was held between the European Social Partners in the fisheries sector—ETF, Europêche, and Cogeca—and EU Commissioner Costas Kadis. The primary agenda was to discuss the future of the European fisheries sector, with a significant focus on integrating social, economic, and environmental sustainability in alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Advancing SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The discussion centred on ensuring the long-term viability of the fisheries sector by promoting decent work and economic resilience. Key points raised by the Social Partners included:

• The necessity of policies that support fair jobs, economic stability, and social sustainability for fishing communities.
• The critical need for a dedicated fisheries fund to support enhanced safety, training, and working conditions, directly contributing to the targets of SDG 8.
• A formal call for a dedicated Directive to harmonise training and mobility across the EU, ensuring a skilled and safe workforce.
• Concerns regarding generational renewal, highlighting that adverse economic conditions and stringent regulations threaten the sector’s appeal to younger generations.
• The importance of promoting decent work and international labour standards, such as ILO Convention C188, in the EU’s external fisheries policy to ensure a global level playing field.

Upholding SDG 14: Life Below Water through a Balanced Common Fisheries Policy (CFP)

The meeting addressed the need to balance marine conservation with the socio-economic foundations of the fishing industry, a core principle of SDG 14.

1. CFP Evaluation: The Commissioner confirmed the ongoing evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy will be published in spring 2026, with the upcoming Vision for Fisheries 2040 placing a strong emphasis on the social dimension.
2. Socio-Economic Integration: Social Partners warned that excessive quota cuts and area closures negatively impact jobs and incomes, undermining SDG 8. They reiterated the need to systematically integrate socio-economic impact assessments when setting fishing limits.
3. Data for Policy: The Committee acknowledged the work by the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) to develop social indicators, a crucial step towards ensuring social impacts are considered in all EU fisheries initiatives.

Strategic Frameworks for a Sustainable Transition

The dialogue covered key EU policy and financial instruments essential for achieving a sustainable transition in the fisheries sector, linking to multiple SDGs.

• Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028–2034: Social Partners stressed that a robust, dedicated fisheries fund is essential to support fleet modernisation and decarbonisation, aligning with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
• Vision for Fisheries 2040: The Commissioner affirmed that this long-term vision would prioritise the social dimension, skills, and safety of the workforce, reflecting a commitment to balance the three pillars of sustainability: people, planet, and profit.

Conclusion: The Role of Social Dialogue in Achieving Sustainability

The meeting concluded by reaffirming the importance of social dialogue as a key mechanism for effective policymaking, in line with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Both the Social Partners and the Commissioner committed to continued collaboration. The shared goal is to ensure that the EU’s Vision for Fisheries 2040 delivers a balanced and sustainable future for the sector, contributing directly to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article on the European fisheries sector highlights issues that connect to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily focusing on the balance between economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

   • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The article is heavily focused on the social and economic well-being of fishers. It repeatedly mentions the need for “fair jobs,” “decent jobs,” “economic resilience,” “enhanced safety, training and working conditions,” and protecting the “livelihoods of fishers.” This directly aligns with SDG 8’s goal of promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.
   • SDG 14: Life Below Water: The core context of the article is the fisheries sector, which is intrinsically linked to marine ecosystems. The discussion revolves around policies like the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), “balancing resource conservation with the livelihoods of fishers,” and managing “quota cuts and area closures.” These topics are central to SDG 14, which aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development.
   • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article describes a meeting between the “European Social Partners — ETF, Europêche, and Cogeca” and the “EU Commissioner.” This event is an example of “constructive social dialogue between workers, employers and the European Commission.” This multi-stakeholder partnership and dialogue to shape policy is a key aspect of SDG 17, which emphasizes the need for collaboration to achieve sustainable development goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the specific issues discussed, several targets under the identified SDGs can be pinpointed.

   • Under SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth):
     • Target 8.5: “By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all…” The article’s emphasis on ensuring “fair jobs,” “decent jobs,” and protecting “incomes” directly relates to this target. The concern that quota cuts are “threatening jobs” underscores the importance of achieving this goal within the sector.
     • Target 8.8: “Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers…” The call for “enhanced safety,” “harmonised training,” and making the sector “safer, fairer, and more attractive” aligns perfectly with this target. The promotion of labour standards “beyond EU waters” also connects to protecting workers’ rights globally.
   • Under SDG 14 (Life Below Water):
     • Target 14.4: “By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing… and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks…” The discussion about the “evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP)” and the challenge of “balancing resource conservation with the livelihoods of fishers” through measures like “quota cuts” is directly related to the effective regulation of harvesting to ensure sustainability.
     • Target 14.b: “Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets.” While the article speaks of the EU fleet broadly, the concern for fishers’ ability to “stay in business” and the need to integrate “socio-economic considerations in setting fishing limits” reflects the spirit of this target, which is to ensure the economic viability and access rights of fishing communities.
   • Under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):
     • Target 17.17: “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…” The entire article is a report on such a partnership in action. The meeting between the Social Partners (representing workers and employers) and the European Commission to “shape the future of Europe’s fisheries” is a clear example of the multi-stakeholder dialogue and collaboration that this target aims to foster.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   The article mentions and implies several indicators that could be used to track progress.

   • Mentioned Indicators:
     • The article explicitly states that the Committee “welcomed the substantial work presented during the meeting by the STECF to develop both quantitative indicators and qualitative data—such as the National Fisheries Profiles—on the social dimension of the fisheries sector.” This is a direct reference to the creation of formal indicators to measure social sustainability, which would be used to track progress towards targets under SDG 8.
   • Implied Indicators:
     • Employment and Income Levels: The concern over “threatening jobs, incomes” implies that the number of jobs in the fisheries sector and the average income of fishers are key indicators for measuring progress on Target 8.5.
     • Workplace Safety and Training: The call for “enhanced safety” and “harmonised training” suggests that indicators such as the rate of workplace accidents, investment in safety equipment, and the number of fishers receiving certified training would be relevant for Target 8.8.
     • Fish Stock Health: The discussion on “resource conservation” and “quota cuts” implies that the status of fish stocks (e.g., proportion of stocks fished within biologically sustainable levels) is a critical indicator for Target 14.4.
     • Socio-Economic Impact Assessments: The demand to “integrate socio-economic considerations in setting fishing limits” and the mention of “social impact assessments” imply the use of such assessments as a tool (and their findings as indicators) to measure the balance between environmental goals (SDG 14) and social goals (SDG 8).

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: thefishingdaily.com