COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Meetings Tuesday, 29 September 2026

● General Secretariat of the Council   New books added to the Council Library collection - September 2026   Discover our selection of books recently added to the Council Library collection.   Read full post • Council of the EU ­ 29/09/2025 | MEETINGS  Background brief - Justice and Home Affairs Council of 1-2 October 2026 Background brief - Justice and Home Affairs Council of 1-2 October 2026 Visit the website ● Council of the EU

29/09/2026 16:06 | Press release | MFF 2028-2034: Council agrees negotiating position on future EU support for the fisheries sector   The Council today reached a partial negotiating position on a regulation setting out the conditions for the EU’s support for the common fisheries policy (CFP), the EU's maritime and aquaculture policies, and the European ocean pact for the 2028-2034 period. The agreement sets out the Council’s position on the future framework for EU financial support to those policies and complements the provisions of the national and regional partnership plans (NRPP) regulation. Financial and horizontal issues will be taken up in the context of overarching legislative proposals when finalising the negotiating position. These are currently being discussed as part of the negotiations on the overall multiannual financial framework (MFF) covering the period 2028 to 2034. “Today’s agreement gives us a solid basis for shaping the future of EU support to our fisheries sector. We need to give our fishermen and women the tools to modernise and adapt to the challenges ahead, including the energy transition. We need to do so while ensuring that public funding contributes to sustainable fisheries and aquaculture sectors and recognises our international commitments.” — Martin Heydon - Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine of Ireland Main elements Under the proposed framework for the next MFF, EU support for the fisheries and aquaculture sector would be implemented mainly through national and regional partnership plans (NRPPs). The new architecture would replace a number of existing funds, programmes and regulations, including the current European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), with a single funding toolbox. The aim is to simplify and streamline EU funding, provide greater flexibility to member states and strengthen synergies between different policy areas. The regulation complements the national and regional partnership plans (NRPP) regulation, which sets out rules for programming, implementation, governance and monitoring, as well as the financial framework for the interventions related to the fisheries and aquaculture sector. Therefore, the Council position seeks to ensure consistency with the NRPP regulation and other regulations relevant for the future Union support. The Council’s position aims to provide a good balance between supporting the competitiveness, modernisation and resilience of the EU fisheries sector, while ensuring the sustainability of fish stocks and compliance with the EU’s international obligations. Enabling fleet modernisation while safeguarding sustainable fisheries The Council’s position allows for EU support for fleet modernisation, including investments in existing and new vessels. This will help the sector’s energy transition, improve working conditions aboard vessels, and facilitate generational renewal. At the same time, the Council included safeguards to ensure that EU funding does not increase pressure on fish stocks. In the case of certain investments in fishing vessels and vessel purchases, the provisions ensure that no additional fishing capacity is introduced without first withdrawing existing fishing capacity, with special rules for small-scale coastal fishing. Aligning EU fisheries funding with international subsidy rules The Council’s amendments also ensure that the future EU framework reflects the WTO agreement on fisheries subsidies, binding on the EU since September 2025. This is particularly relevant given the EU’s role in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing globally. An article on control and data collection was added, to reinforce the importance of both these aspects for the sustainable management of fisheries. Next steps The negotiating mandate approved today is the basis for the Council's presidency to start negotiations with the European Parliament. The overall budget for the programmes for the 2028-2034 period will depend on the final agreement on the next MFF as a whole. Background On 16 July 2025 the Commission presented its proposal for a regulation establishing the conditions for implementing EU support for the common fisheries policy, the European ocean pact and the EU’s maritime and aquaculture policy as part of the national and regional partnership fund for 2028-2034. Under the proposed framework for the next MFF, EU support for the fisheries sector would be implemented mainly through national and regional partnership plans (NRPPs) and the EU Facility. EU support under the proposed framework would contribute to the following overarching objectives: generational renewal in fisheries and aquaculture energy transition and decarbonisation of the sector sustainable fisheries and aquaculture modernisation and innovation resilience of coastal communities, including small-scale coastal fisheries development of the sustainable blue economy. Commission proposal Watch the public session The EU's long-term budget for 2028–2034 (background information) Common fisheries policy and its goals (background information)   Visit the website

● Council of the EU   29/09/2026 17:36 | Meetings | Main results - Agriculture and Fisheries Council, 28-29 September 2026   The Council today reached a partial negotiating mandate on the regulation setting out the post-2027 EU support for the fisheries sector. Among other topics, ministers also discussed the proposal for a regulation amending the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund.   View meeting page