Spain Pushes for Balanced Fishing Quotas in 2026 Talks with EU

Luis Planas, Spain's Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, has emphasized the complexities ahead in negotiating the 2026 Total Allowable Catches (TAC) and fishing quotas with the European Commission. Speaking during the Consultative Council on Fisheries Policy, Planas highlighted the challenge in balancing sustainability and the socio-economic viability of Spain's fishing sector amid new, stricter long-term frameworks being introduced by the EU. He noted that the final proposal for Mediterranean fishing quotas is still pending and described negotiations as particularly challenging given these tightened capture limits and sustainability requirements.

Spain plans to demand proposals satisfactory to its fleet, especially advocating for the consideration of socio-economic factors alongside conservation, particularly for artisanal and trawler fleets targeting critical species. Additionally, Planas announced a joint proposal with Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Portugal to simplify and revise the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) to better address climate change and maritime space competition.

Aside from fisheries, the upcoming discussions will also focus on the post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Planas called for a strong, autonomous CAP with adequate funding to support food security and sustainability challenges. He pointed to Spain's robust agro-food exports surpassing 77 billion euros and stressed the need for market diversification amid complex global politics, mentioning positive trade relations with the United States and ongoing negotiations elsewhere.