Greek Rural Development and Food Minister Margaritis Schinas has placed fleet renewal and support for coastal fishers at the centre of national European policy negotiations.
Speaking at a conference organised by the ministry titled Revision of the Common Fisheries Policy: Challenges and Opportunities for Greece, Schinas highlighted that the nation faces decisive choices over the EU regulatory framework.
He urged the formation of a robust national position ahead of upcoming negotiations in Brussels, stressing that European rules must accommodate modernisation and technological advancement.
The Common Fisheries Policy sets rules for managing European fishing fleets and conserving fish stocks across member states of the European Union. As a Mediterranean nation with thousands of kilometres of coastline, Greece operates one of the largest small-scale fishing fleets in Europe.
National Priorities for EU Negotiations
Schinas set technology, energy transition, vessel safety, and professional training as prime national objectives for the updated European policy framework.
He gave special emphasis to involving fishers directly in the decision-making process, asserting that the new EU policy cannot be designed in isolation from those working at sea. He noted that decisions will not be made at their expense but in consultation with them.
Addressing the unique structure of Greek fisheries compared to other member states, Schinas pointed out that Greece relies heavily on small coastal fishers and family-run enterprises.
Across island regions and remote coastal areas, fishing represents far more than an economic activity. Schinas stated that the sector underpins social cohesion, local economies, and population retention in island communities.
Greece includes over 2,000 islands across the Aegean and Ionian seas, where remote coastal towns frequently depend on small-scale maritime trades for economic survival and regional stability.
Fair Competition and Industry Challenges
Schinas raised concerns regarding unfair competition from non-EU nations, pointing out that European fishers must comply with strict environmental and operational standards while competing against imports produced under less stringent conditions.
He stressed that applying identical rules to all market participants is essential to ensure fair competition across the sector.
The minister also highlighted the mounting pressures of high operating costs, an aging vessel fleet, and an older workforce, which raise critical questions about who will staff the industry in the coming years.
Traditional wooden and small-scale motor vessels make up the majority of coastal fleets in southern Europe, where rising fuel prices and maintenance expenses have created barriers for younger generations entering the trade.
Legislative Reform and Digital Oversight
Outlining interventions already in progress, Schinas announced that approximately 2 million euros has been allocated to modernise the fish market at Nea Michaniona, alongside a broader 16 million euro programme currently running for the fishing sector.
Nea Michaniona, located in northern Greece near Thessaloniki, serves as one of the country's primary commercial fishing hubs and major wholesale fish markets.
A new fisheries bill is scheduled for debate in the Greek Parliament this week, aimed at reforming the institutional framework and simplifying daily operations for industry professionals.
The proposed legislation introduces a new national fisheries control system and a unified digital environment. This platform will integrate the national fishing registry, vessel permits, vessel data, trade records, product traceability, infringement monitoring, aquaculture, and processing data.
Looking ahead, Schinas presaged a prominent role for fisheries during the Greek presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2027, expressing confidence that the sector can bolster Greek production and export capabilities.
Legal Framework and Judicial Review
Michalis Pikramenos, the President of the Council of State, also addressed the event, asking what role a judge plays regarding the Common Fisheries Policy.
The Council of State is the supreme administrative court of Greece, tasked with examining administrative acts, reviewing executive decrees, and adjudicating public law disputes.
Pikramenos explained that fisheries policy involves complex legal disputes where national legislation, European Union law, and international treaties intersect.
He described judges as social scientists who must understand the broader political and institutional framework to resolve cases. In fisheries disputes, the Council of State applies national statutes, the Constitution, EU law, international conventions, and rulings from the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Court of Human Rights.
Pikramenos highlighted the dual function of the court, which includes ex-ante scrutiny of draft Presidential Decrees on environmental matters, alongside resolving litigation involving coastal zones, ports, fishing rights, and marine ecosystem protection.
Global Ocean Sustainability Targets
Pikramenos underlined the necessity of balancing community sustainability with environmental protection amidst climate change and demographic shifts.
Referencing United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14, titled Life Below Water, Pikramenos cited striking global figures regarding marine environments.
He noted that oceans cover three quarters of the Earth's surface, hold 97 percent of global water, and account for 99 percent of the planet's living space.
Furthermore, more than 3 billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods, while oceans absorb roughly 30 percent of human-produced carbon dioxide emissions.
Marine fisheries support over 200 million jobs directly or indirectly worldwide, yet approximately 40 percent of ocean waters suffer from human impacts such as pollution, overfishing, and coastal ecosystem destruction.
Concluding his address, Pikramenos stated that while government holds primary responsibility for shaping fisheries policy through public consultation, effective administration should minimise judicial disputes. When cases do reach the courts, he emphasized that timely rulings are critical, as human lives and livelihoods depend on judicial outcomes.
