Evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy shows the social dimension has been neglected Press release: The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) considers the evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), published by the European Commission on 30 April 2026, an important exercise to identify critical issues affecting workers in the fisheries sector. However, the report makes one reality painfully clear: prioritising environmental sustainability almost exclusively has not delivered the expected results. News 18 May 2026
EU Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius met EU social partners to address social gaps in the Common Fisheries Policy The Social Partners welcome the Commissioner’s open dialogue with the EU Social Dialogue Committee for Sea Fisheries and recognition of its unique role in addressing the social dimension of the CFP. Press Release 5 Dec 2022
ETF and Europeche joint press release – The EU Commissioner Sinkevicius met EU social partners to address social gaps in the Common Fisheries Policy resource 5 Dec 2022
Fishing capacity ceilings have to be reviewed to bring the sector closer to social and environmental sustainability Social partners call for a revision of the current fishing capacity rules to allow for improvements in safety and working conditions and move the industry closer to the European Green Deal goals. News 10 Nov 2020
Joint letter to Commissioner Sinkevičius on entry/exit scheme and fishing capacity measurements resource 10 Nov 2020
Without fishers, there’s no fishing At a plenary meeting, the EU Social Partners in the Fisheries Sector – Europêche, Cogeca and ETF – welcomed the presentation of the parliamentary draft report “Fishers for the future: Attracting a new generation of labour to the fishing industry and generating employment in coastal communities” of the MEP Manuel Pizarro. While acknowledging the report as an important step in the right direction, social partners call on the policy-makers to recognize the key social dimension of fishing, thus improving the health and safety of fishers and attracting youth to the sector. Press Release 5 Nov 2020
Next Common Fisheries Policy – this time with fishers on board? The representatives of trade unions, European Commission and other stakeholders in the fisheries sector gathered in Brussels on 24 September to discuss the trade union vision for a more social Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Event 24 Sep 2019
Fair Fishing for Europe: Trade Unions launch debate on a more social EU fisheries policy ETF and EFFAT hosted a joint seminar about the future of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Workers, trade union activists, policymakers and experts joined the two-day event. News 28 Jun 2018