Seven members of the European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee will travel to Greenland next week to assess the impact of the EU-Greenland Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA). The visit will take place from 16 to 18 September.
Meetings with Greenlandic Leaders
The delegation will begin by meeting Greenland’s Minister of Fisheries and officials from the fisheries control agency. They will also hold discussions with the Fisheries, Hunting and Agriculture Committee in the Inatsisartut, Greenland’s parliament. In addition, a meeting is planned with the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources.
To gain insight into local fishing practices, the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will visit the Royal Greenland trawler in Nuuk and the Halibut Greenland fishermen’s cooperative. An Icefjord boat tour in Ilulissat will give them first-hand experience of the challenges of Arctic fishing.
Focus on Fishermen’s Voices
On the final day, the group will meet representatives of the Greenland Fishermen and Hunters Association, the national organisation for shellfish and other fish species, as well as Polar Seafood, one of the country’s major fishing companies.
“I am looking forward to our mission to Greenland, an important partner for the EU,” said Sander Smit, vice-chair of the Fisheries Committee and head of the delegation. “It is vital to understand the daily realities of fishers and local communities. I welcome the opportunity to engage with the Greenlandic Minister of Fisheries, the Mayor of Ilulissat, stakeholders, and the Inatsisartut Committee on how we can strengthen our cooperation under the SFPA, supporting sustainable fisheries management amid today’s complex geopolitical, economic and food security challenges.”
The EU-Greenland fisheries agreement is the EU’s second largest, worth more than €17 million annually. It provides vital income and jobs in Greenland. A new five-year protocol for 2025–2030 was approved by the European Parliament in July.