Sharing the tragedy of marginalised communities suffering #IUU @ #OurOcean fulfils promise to bring their voices to international attention

My visit to Normandy ends with a good discussion with the fishing community in Port-en-Bessin-Huppain, a leader in innovation. 🎣🇫🇷 We want to see modernised fishing boats in our ports, young people joining the profession, and a vibrant sector , resilient to external shocks, be it consequence of climate change or geopolitical dynamics. With high fuel costs and the challenges of Brexit, the sector is navigating rough waters. But the EU is here to help. #EMFAF funds are supporting innovation and helping young fishers start their careers, and #Vision2040 will focus on energy transition, generational renewal, and fair competition. Grateful to @CathChabaud and @s_yoncourtin for having introduced me to Normandy’s realities and for the hospitality of the local community.

Our coasts and islands are Europe’s economic powerhouses, cultural treasures, and the frontline of climate change. Today, alongside @RaffaeleFitto, we adopted the EU Strategies on Coastal Communities and Islands. 🔹 Coastal Communities: Securing prosperity, resilience, and liveability for the millions who call our coasts home. 🔹 Islands: Empowering our islands with tailored solutions for energy autonomy, connectivity, and sustainable tourism. From pescatourism to blue carbon credits, from climate-proof infrastructure to digital innovation, these strategies ensure our coastal and island communities thrive. @EU_MARE ec.europa.eu/commission/pres…

10 years ago, the Market Advisory Council and Aquaculture Advisory Council were created to bring stakeholders together. Today, they stand as pillars of EU fisheries and aquaculture policy. 🐟 From shaping the #CFP to advancing sustainability, the Advisory Councils have shown that diverse voices can find common ground resilient and forward-looking fisheries and aquaculture sector. 🤝 Our strong and constructive cooperation is a key asset and will be essential as we look ahead to shaping a future that is sustainable, innovative, and fair.

The Commission has adopted the first-ever EU strategies dedicated to coastal communities and islands. They aim to support stronger economies, climate adaptation, improved connectivity and quality of life for those on islands and along Europe’s coasts. link.europa.eu/v7yFKP

Europe’s 70,000 km of coastline are home to 95 million people and generate €265 billion annually. Their future depends on how we act now. The adoption of the EU Strategy on Coastal Communities is built on 13 flagship actions and three pillars: prosperity, resilience, and liveability. From blue economy diversification to climate adaptation and affordable housing, this strategy is about tailored, place-based solutions, because no two coastal communities are the same. Coastal communities are the lifeblood of Europe’s blue economy. This strategy isn’t just about protecting them—it’s about empowering them. 🌊 @EU_MARE ec.europa.eu/commission/pres…

On World Ocean Day, as we mark one year of the 3rd UN Ocean Conference and the adoption of the #EUOceanPact, I am pleased to join the friends of the ocean at Neptune Mission Forum. The message is clear: the ocean’s future depends on global cooperation and on expanding our knowledge of the ocean. 🌊 Preserving ocean’s health, but also navigating today’s turbulent geopolitical waters, requires science, data, and diplomacy, which is why #OceanEye comes at just the right time. 🌍 The ocean knows no borders—neither should our efforts to save it.

Pleased to meet with 🇱🇹 Minister Andrius Palionis to discuss #Lithuania’s fishing and Aquaculture sectors as well as EU fisheries policy and upcoming simplification initiatives. From #OceanEye to #Vision2040 for fisheries and aquaculture, we’re working to ensure science, sustainability, and fairness guide our policies, while the next EU budget offers new opportunities. The Baltic’s strength lies in its coastal communities, and the @EU_Commission is here to support them. 🇪🇺

For farms and aquaculture businesses, fuel costs are part of daily operations. France will be able to provide support to companies facing higher non-road diesel prices due to the Middle East crisis, following approval by the European Commission: link.europa.eu/ThJV7P

Adopted today: #OceanEye, the @EU_Commission's ocean observation initiative. The initiative supports the EU’s ambition to become a global leader in ocean intelligence by 2035 - a key economic & geopolitical choice, a strategic imperative for Europe. link.europa.eu/NF6kD8

The EU’s motto is ‘united in diversity’. Here, everyone deserves to be safe, respected, and free to be who they are. As Diversity Month ends, discover how we are tackling discrimination in all its forms: link.europa.eu/Nrrgvw

Ευρωπαϊκή Ημέρα Θάλασσας: Η εμβληματική ετήσια εκδήλωση της ΕΕ για τη θάλασσα διοργανώθηκε με επιτυχία φέτος στην Λεμεσό, φέρνοντας μαζί πολιτικούς, επιστήμονες, εκπροσώπους της γαλάζιας οικονομίας και της κοινωνίας των πολιτών για να συζητήσουν για το παρόν και το μέλλον των θαλασσών μας. Η εκδήλωση ανέδειξε ότι η θάλασσα και οι πολιτικές που συνδέονται με αυτήν βρίσκονται πολύ ψηλά στις προτεραιότητες της ΕΕ. Θερμές ευχαριστίες στο Υφυπουργείο Ναυτιλίας @maritimeCyprus και τον Δήμο Λεμεσού @YiannisArmeftis για τη συνεργασία καθώς και στον @philenewscy για το αφιέρωμα.

Looking for EU funding to bring your green project to LIFE? The #LIFEProgramme Call for Proposals 2026 is now open! Join thousands of projects already helping protect nature, reduce pollution, tackle climate change & accelerate the shift to clean energy. link.europa.eu/bybQPg

The European Commission is seeking your views on the 4 EU multiannual plans. Submit your feedback: link.europa.eu/Fbw6Xn

The Arctic is our planet’s early warning system. It is undergoing changes that demand urgent and collective action. Delighted to speak at the Ocean Connectivity Conference @ArcticCouncil in 🇫🇴 as we look ahead to the update of our Arctic Policy. 🌍 A sustainable Arctic means a safer, prosperous and healthier future for its people and the world.

How can Europe’s seaweed sector move from innovation to market uptake? The latest #EU4Algae Insider’s Perspective highlights I3-4-SEAWEED, EU project supporting smarter cultivation, reliable biomass supply, advanced processing and SME commercialisation: link.europa.eu/vTdpNw

🇪🇺🤝🇫🇷 €13 million approved by the Commission to support France's fishers. Fuel prices have surged with the conflict in the Middle East. Our answer: 🔹Support for marine fuel purchased - 20 cents/litre in April, 35 cents/litre in May. More on METSAF⬇️ ec.europa.eu/commission/pres…

In Limassol for #EMD2026, meeting the people who make our blue economy.  Today, I had the chance to visit @LevantinaFish, a family-run maritime aquaculture farm. A great example of sustainability & innovation, showing off the potential of the #aquaculture sector for the EU.

…strengthened coordination and improved data sharing for fisheries control, including coordinated risk assessments and joint inspection planning. Read more here: link.europa.eu/8FkXWw 2/2

Without effective control, there can be no sustainable fisheries management. Under the Specialised Committee on Fisheries, the EU and UK agreed to an enhanced control framework covering more than 2,500 vessels, with a focus on... 1/2

Join the 'Marine Protected Areas in Action: Tools, Restoration and Governance for Healthier Seas' webinar on 12 May! 🌊 Register here:  eu01web.zoom.us/webinar/regi… @Cinea_EU @EUScienceInnov @EU_MARE @HorizonEU @Effective2327 @MSP4BIO_Project @oceancitizen_eu @BLUE4ALLproject