Cyprus, as an island state, is promoting, through its Presidency of the European Council, flagship European Union actions for the seas, with an emphasis on the European Ocean Pact, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, has stressed.
In an interview with CNA he noted that Cyprus is actively participating in the implementation of the Pact, making use of the momentum that has been created for the protection of the marine environment and the strengthening of maritime security.
Kadis pointed out that Cyprus' Council Presidency coincides with a particularly important period for the protection of the seas. As he noted, a decisive role is played by the European Ocean Pact, the EU’s flagship strategy in this field, through which specific actions are expected to be developed in the coming period. The Pact constitutes the first comprehensive approach of the European Union to the management and protection of marine ecosystems, shaping a coherent policy framework for the sustainable use and preservation of marine biodiversity.
He stressed that Cyprus supported this initiative from the outset, adding that, as an island country, it has a particular interest in issues concerning the ocean and the sea.
The European Commissioner recalled that President Nikos Christodoulides, was among the leaders who attended the special event and was one of the speakers during the presentation of the Pact by President von der Leyen, which took place last June in Nice, France.
Kadis noted that there is very good coordination between the Presidency and the Commission regarding the implementation of the actions included in the Pact.
He added that the Pact has generated significant momentum around EU policies related to the marine environment and that Cyprus is making use of this momentum, contributing, as holder of the Presidency of the European Council, to the implementation of flagship actions included in the Pact.
He stressed that during the first half of 2026 there are very important actions and referred to two specific Strategies concerning Island regions and Coastal regions.
He explained that these two Strategies aim to record the particular characteristics of these regions and to identify the challenges they face, such as the impacts of climate change, which are observed increasingly frequently, whether in the form of droughts, floods, natural disasters and others.
Kadis noted that there are also challenges related to connectivity, the isolation of these regions, the complexity of their energy interconnections and the complicated issues in waste management. He stressed that all these challenges will be analyzed in depth and strategic solutions will be proposed to address them.
He stated that this framework will be presented at a special event to be held in Cyprus at the end of June. He remarked that Cyprus is an ideal place for the presentation of these strategies. “The challenges and particularities referred to for island and coastal regions are also experienced by Cyprus,” he noted.
The Commissioner cited as examples issues of excessive pollution, prolonged drought as a result of climate change, and natural disasters such as wildfires. “All these issues concerning island regions and presented as challenges are directly linked to the Cypriot reality. And for symbolic reasons, we could not have had a better place to present the strategy than Cyprus,” he explained.
Developing another very important action that will begin to be implemented during the Cypriot Presidency, namely the Ocean Observation Initiative, the Commissioner stressed that its objective is to obtain more reliable data on the seabed. More specifically, Kadis explained that the Initiative, which falls under the Pact, includes continuous monitoring and research of the seabed, with data collected both from below and above the sea, as well as from its surface.
The aim, the Commissioner continued, is to have at any given moment a clear picture of the state of the marine environment — whether it concerns fisheries, pollution and rescue operations, or the movement of marine species, as well as navigation and fishing activities, which in some cases may be linked to illegal practices, including shadow fleets.
It is, Kadis explained, a tool that will provide the necessary information for the effective protection of the marine environment and for the prevention and management of risks that may arise from various factors.
Common Fisheries Policy
At the same time, the Commissioner stressed that the evaluation of the Regulation of the Common Fisheries Policy, which constitutes the regulatory framework for fishing activities in the EU, is being completed. He added that the results of the evaluation will be presented at an informal Council of Fisheries Ministers to be held in May in Cyprus and, based on the discussion that will follow, it will be decided whether targeted improvements are needed.
Kadis stressed that this Regulation governs the way fishing activities are carried out and regulates aquaculture throughout the EU.
Referring to the importance of the event, he described it as particularly significant, as depending on the results and the discussions that follow, it will be decided whether targeted improvements should be made to the framework. He explained that since the Regulation has not been revised since 2013, new data and challenges have emerged that must be taken into account for the modernisation of the framework.
“I consider it very important that the first major step in this process will take place in Cyprus, through the informal Council,” he added.
European Maritime Day
At the same time, the Commissioner also referred to European Maritime Day, which is being organised in May in Limassol, together with the Cypriot Presidency and in cooperation with the Municipality of the city.
It is an event, Kadis continued, that takes place every year in a different coastal region. He stressed that the event will bring together various stakeholders, whether governmental bodies, industry representatives, non-governmental organisations or academic institutions, who are directly or indirectly related to the sea, to present activities concerning the marine environment and to discuss policies affecting the sea.
At the same time, he stated that the Cypriot Presidency places particular emphasis on maritime security and will hold a high-level meeting on the matter in Larnaca on 20 March, with the participation of the Commissioner himself.
Defence, security and infrastructure
Asked about issues of maritime defence and security, Kadis stressed that the marine environment hosts infrastructure of enormous importance. He noted that 97% of pan-European internet traffic — that is, the data transferred to mobile phones and computers, as well as for the functioning of institutions and services — is transmitted through the sea.
At the same time, he noted that 75% of EU trade is conducted through maritime transport, while the sea also hosts energy infrastructure, such as natural gas and oil, as well as renewable energy sources, which are constantly increasing.
Therefore, he said, there is a large amount of infrastructure of exceptional importance for the quality of life of European citizens, adding that "this infrastructure must be protected". He underlined that the European Union has developed a comprehensive action plan to strengthen infrastructure maintenance and prevent attacks.
Within the framework of the Ocean Pact, the Commissioner pointed out that there is a specific action concerning the development of unmanned means for better surveillance of maritime areas.
Specifically, he said that the development and use of unmanned aircraft aim to ensure maritime security.
Alongside the actions taking place at EU level and at the level of Member States, Kadis stressed that private companies managing this infrastructure must cooperate with states and military authorities, participate in preparedness exercises and implement security measures, with the financial and institutional support of the EU.
Prudent fishing and promotion of aquaculture
Asked to comment on efforts to reduce imports of marine products into the European Union while at the same time preserving European ecosystems, Kadis stated that this is one of the greatest challenges that must be addressed.
He noted that EU Member States cover around 70% of their needs through imports, whether aquaculture products or fisheries products, underlining that this does not contribute to the Union’s food security or its autonomy.
He made known that in order to reduce this percentage, the Commission is moving in two directions.
First of all, he noted that it must be taken into account that Europe’s seas are reaching their limits, as in several areas overfishing is observed.
We must aim, he added, at prudent fishing in order to ensure fisheries for the coming years. “That is, there must be prudent management of fisheries, based on scientific knowledge,” he added.
However, he noted, the decisive factor that can help limit the EU’s import needs is the development of aquaculture. “Global fish farming is perhaps the fastest-growing sector of food production, while in the European Union it has remained stagnant. Only 10% of our needs are covered by aquaculture products,” he observed.
Cyprus, he said, does not follow the European trend in this sector; on the contrary, aquaculture is increasing.
In 2025, he continued, a pan-European campaign was launched to promote aquaculture. “We present the stories of ordinary people, producers of aquaculture products, to raise awareness and inform about their work and the quality of the products produced,” he added.
Asked whether there are intentions on the part of the EU to increase agreements with third countries for the development of fisheries by sending EU experts on site, the Commissioner stressed that this is a policy moving in the right direction.
This approach, he said, reduces the risk of dependence on specific countries, such as the United States.
He stressed that proper risk management must be carried out, which entails having more options on the table. He cited as examples the Agreement with Mercosur and with India, and noted that other agreements will follow. In this context, he stressed that, when it comes to product imports, criteria must be foreseen to ensure that they originate from legal activities.
(Source: CNA)
