— Ana Ramos, head of the Representation of the Government of Galicia to the EU, opened and moderated the session.

— The meeting focused on the challenges and priorities of the European fisheries policy for the coming years, including the design of the funds dedicated to fisheries in the EU’s future long-term budget.

Brussels, the 21st of November 2025 – The Representation of the Government of Galicia to the EU has just held a new session of the “Xunta-EU Virtual Meetings” cycle, this time focusing on the present and future of the European fisheries policy, at a key moment marked both by the sustainability requirements facing the fleet and the ongoing negotiations on the next long-term budget of the European Union.

Ana Ramos, head of the Representation, opened the meeting by recalling the importance of fisheries for Galicia, one of the European regions most dependent on this sector. She stressed that Galicia has long been advocating for a Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) that is closer to the realities of the territory, balanced between sustainability, economic needs and social dimension, and grounded in the best available scientific knowledge. She also underlined the importance of securing a strong and dedicated fisheries fund in the EU long-term budget for the 2028–2034 period, which will be essential to support the sector’s sustainable transitio.

A balanced CFP and stable funding in the upcoming 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework were called for.

A representative of the European Commission presented the European Commission’s perspective on the priorities of the Common Fisheries Policy, the main challenges faced by the European fleet, and the design of the funds that will support fisheries activities from 2027 onwards. From the Galician side, Cándido Rial, Director-General for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Technological Innovation, outlined the regional government’s approach to the challenges of the new European policy, detailing the sector’s needs, the work being undertaken by the Galician Regional Ministry for Fisheries, and the opportunities of the next financial cycle, particularly in innovation, energy transition and competitiveness.

Online meetings Xunta-UE

More than 700 representatives of the Government of Galicia have taken part in the 50 sessions of the ‘Online meetings Xunta-UE’, held since 2020. The Representation of the Government of Galicia in Brusels launched this initiative during the COVID pandemic to inform about the EU’s response and the design of the 2021–2027 programming period. It has since evolved into a monthly forum for debating the most relevant issues on the EU agenda for Galicia.