CIHEAM exchanges with European Commissioner Costas Kadis on oceans, fisheries and the blue economy
22 July 2026, Brussels, Belgium
A CIHEAM delegation led by Secretary General Teodoro Miano, accompanied by George Baourakis, Director of CIHEAM Chania, met in Brussels with Costas Kadis, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, to discuss prospects for enhanced cooperation between the Organisation and the European Commission on ocean governance, sustainable fisheries, aquaculture and the blue economy in the Mediterranean.
Copyright, European Union, 2026
The meeting carried particular significance as Commissioner Costas Kadis, who is from Cyprus, is himself a graduate of the CIHEAM Chania Institute, reflecting the lasting ties that CIHEAM has built with successive generations of political leaders, scientists and institutional stakeholders across the Mediterranean.
European Ocean Pact
The meeting took place at a time when the European Commission is conducting several strategic consultations to shape the European Union's future policies on oceans, fisheries, aquaculture, coastal communities and the blue economy, as part of the implementation of the European Ocean Pact.
On this occasion, Commissioner Costas Kadis expressed his interest in involving CIHEAM in the development and implementation of future European initiatives in these fields. He highlighted the expertise developed by CIHEAM's four Mediterranean Agronomic Institutes and the Organisation's longstanding experience in research, higher education, training, capacity building and regional cooperation, recognising that CIHEAM's scientific knowledge, technical expertise and longstanding experience make the Organisation a valuable contributor to the design and implementation of future European policy initiatives in the Mediterranean.
The discussions highlighted the strong convergence between the European Commission's priorities and CIHEAM's work towards the sustainable management of marine resources. Particular attention was given to sustainable aquaculture, the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, the protection of marine and coastal ecosystems, and the links between ocean governance and the transition towards sustainable food systems, in line with both European Union and United Nations priorities.
Both parties also underlined the importance of strengthening synergies between CIHEAM's initiatives and those of the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), with a view to fully mobilising the Organisation's scientific expertise, training capacities, knowledge networks and policy dialogue platforms in support of European priorities.
From policy dialogue to concrete action
The meeting also showcased several CIHEAM initiatives already contributing to these objectives, including the SASPA (Fisheries and Aquaculture in the Transition towards Sustainable Food Systems) project. The project supports the transition of fisheries and aquaculture value chains towards more sustainable food systems by fostering dialogue among public authorities, researchers, professionals and value chain stakeholders. It promotes an integrated approach linking production, consumption, nutrition and sustainability.
The CIHEAM General Secretariat also contributes to this dynamic by supporting the initiative and organising events dedicated to the role of fisheries and aquaculture in the transition towards sustainable food systems.
More broadly, the discussions highlighted CIHEAM's contribution to European priorities through its work on sustainable food systems, coastal resilience, research and innovation, skills development and scientific cooperation across the Mediterranean.
Strengthening collaboration with Cyprus
The exchange also addressed ways to strengthen Cyprus' participation in CIHEAM activities. Both sides underlined the value of developing new forms of cooperation with the country, in line with the "One CIHEAM" approach, which seeks to mobilise the complementary expertise of the Organisation as a whole for the benefit of the Mediterranean region.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to organise a follow-up session to present CIHEAM's activities, projects and expertise in the fields of oceans, fisheries, aquaculture and the blue economy in greater detail, and to identify concrete areas for cooperation with the European Commission. The follow-up meeting will provide an opportunity to explore how CIHEAM's scientific, technical and institutional expertise can contribute to the design and implementation of future European policies on oceans, fisheries and the blue economy.
European Commission website: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/media/photo/P-070287
More about SASPA: https://www.ciheam.org/agendas/the-main-course-of-sustainability-the-restaurant-industry/