Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions – Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy

The 2009 Green Paper on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) concluded that the policy is not achieving its key objectives: fish stocks are overfished, the economic situation of parts of the fleet is fragile despite receiving high levels of subsidies, jobs in the fishing sector are unattractive, and the situation of many coastal communities depending on fisheries is precarious. The outcome of the wide consultation process that followed the Green Paper confirmed this analysis.

Against this background, the Commission is proposing an ambitious reform of the policy. This reform is about putting in place the conditions for a better future for fish and fisheries alike, as well as the marine environment that supports them. The CFP has enormous potential to deliver the building blocks for sustainable fisheries that respect the ecosystem as well as providing high-quality, healthy fish products for European citizens, thriving coastal communities, profitable industries producing and processing fish, and attractive and safer jobs.

The reform will contribute to the Europe 2020 Strategy by working towards sustainable and inclusive growth, enhanced cohesion in coastal regions, and robust economic performance of the industy. By aiming to ensure that living marine resources are exploited sustainably, the reform is also a key component of the resource-efficient Europe flagship initiative.

EUR-Lex: COM(2011)417: Follow the progress of this document through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2011:417:FIN

European Commission: DG Fisheries and Maritime Affairs: Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/reform/

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