30 March 2026 12:14 UTC · European Commission · EU Commission Press Release · Source · Email X Link

European Commission says Commission prioritises simplifying EU fisheries rules

Key points

Prioritise simplification and proportionality in EU fisheries rules
Implement harmonised weighing and CATCH to ensure reliable data and compliance

TL;DR

Commission emphasises simplification, reduced administrative burden, proportionality, compliance and competitiveness for the EU fisheries sector.
Commission instructed services to explore revisions to EMFAF and Multiannual Plans and will reply to a February letter from 18 Member States.
Commission urges smart implementation of the revised Control Regulation, focusing on harmonised weighing to ensure accurate catch data and a level playing field.
CATCH is operational and compulsory for Member States and importers; RECFISHING assists fishers and 13 Member States with reporting.

Original text

European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Speech by Commissioner Kadis at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on improvement and simplification in the roll out of the amended EU Fisheries Control Regulation Brussels, 30 March 2026 Dear Chair/Maria, Ministers, Simplification, reduction of administrative burden, proportionality of the rules, compliance and the competitiveness of the EU fisheries sector are key principles of the Commission's decision-making and at the forefront of our priorities. Specifically as regards simplification, having listened to you, the Parliament and the stakeholders during my visits in Member States, I have instructed my services to work on a number of possibilities to facilitate our sector, including the possible revision of EMFAF and the Multiannual Plans. In that respect there will soon be a reply to the February letter received by 18 of you. As regards, the revision of the Control Regulation, it was a challenging process that resulted in a very good outcome, of which we should all be proud. It brought much needed modernisation, improvement and simplification of the EU fisheries control system. Now is the time for smart implementation, not for reopening what we achieved together. And smart implementation means working together to identify and tackle bottlenecks withing the legal framework. Accurate weighing is a critical step for effective fisheries control and management. It is the basis for accurate catch registration and therefore for credible data. It is ultimately the key to a sound fisheries management and to a fair and level playing field across the Union. Over the past two years, we have worked closely with your administrations and with stakeholders, and with the involvement of EFCA, in a very inclusive and transparent manner, to prepare the draft implementing act on weighing. I hear the concerns you expressed about administrative burden. At the same time, we must also recognise that the current situation, with fragmented and in some cases non-compliant weighing plans and practices, undermines the level playing field, jeopardises compliance with the fishing opportunities, and weakens the CFP's ability to deliver sustainable fisheries management. Our objective is clear: ensuring robust and reliable control where there is a derogation to the general principle to weigh everything at landing, by replacing fragmentation with harmonised approaches that can produce accurate results. Where possible, we introduce proportionate and simplified solutions, including for small-scale operations. During the inclusive preparatory process, we have listened carefully and adapted the draft to reflect practical implementation challenges raised by Member States. I count on your continued support to reach a balanced outcome that strengthens compliance and our collective ability to manage fisheries sustainably, without undermining the competitiveness of our sector. The co-legislators struck a careful balance in the revised Control Regulation by introducing minimum reporting obligations for recreational fisheries and for limited species, while ensuring these remain proportionate and are supported by practical tools. In this context, the Commission developed the RECFISHING reporting tool that is already assisting both fishers and 13 Member States, making reporting simpler and improving data quality. This is the approach we should continue to follow: effective, but also workable in practice. CATCH is operational today, and more than 25 000 importer declarations have been validated in CATCH since 10 January 2026. Its use is compulsory for all EU Member States and importers. It aims to better protect our market from fishery products from illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. CATCH has remained stable, adding 2500 importer declarations per week in the past month. Beyond a digitalisation effort, CATCH is our first-ever EU-wide real-time system to harmonise border controls across the EU. An EU-wide system also implies a new way of working together and sharing responsibility. The Commission continues to facilitate this process and regularly adjusts CATCH based on user experience. To guarantee uptake by non-EU countries we must ensure legal certainty and safeguard the integrity of CATCH. I count on your support in this regard. SPEECH/26/756

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