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| European Commission DG MARE | |
|---|---|
| Name | Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries |
| Formed | 2014 (merger of DG Mare and parts of DG Environment/ENTR) |
| Jurisdiction | European Union |
| Headquarters | Brussels |
| Chief1 name | Virginijus Sinkevičius (Commissioner, example) |
| Parent agency | European Commission |
European Commission DG MARE The Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) is the European Union's executive body responsible for Common Fisheries Policy, Maritime Spatial Planning Directive, and the Union's maritime strategy. It coordinates with institutions such as the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, and the European Council to implement policy across member states including France, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Ireland. DG MARE interfaces with international organisations like the Food and Agriculture Organization and the International Maritime Organization while engaging regional bodies such as the Baltic Sea Region and the Mediterranean Sea governance networks.
DG MARE emerged from reforms following the 2008 financial crisis and the 2012 reform of the Common Fisheries Policy; it consolidated functions formerly held by units within the European Commission including aspects of the former Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs. Its creation intersects with landmark events and instruments such as the Lisbon Treaty, the Common Fisheries Policy reform of 2013, and negotiations with third countries under frameworks like the World Trade Organization. Historical predecessors include directorates involved in the European Economic Community's fisheries regime and initiatives during the Maastricht Treaty era.
DG MARE's mandate is rooted in the Common Fisheries Policy and the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive, covering sustainable exploitation of fish stocks, stock recovery plans, and regional fisheries management organizations such as the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission and the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. It negotiates bilateral fisheries agreements with states including Norway, Iceland, Morocco, and Mauritania, and contributes to international agreements such as those under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Convention on Biological Diversity. DG MARE also supports initiatives linked to the Blue Economy, marine research funding mechanisms aligned with Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe, and coordinates monitoring through instruments like the European Maritime Safety Agency and the Copernicus Programme.
The Directorate-General reports to the European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries and is divided into units covering regional policies (e.g., Atlantic Ocean, Baltic Sea, Black Sea), fisheries management, international relations, control and enforcement, and maritime affairs. It liaises with agencies including the European Fisheries Control Agency, the European Environment Agency, and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control for aspects like sanitary measures in seafood trade. DG MARE works with committees such as the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries and expert groups drawing membership from Member States and third countries including Russia and Turkey for certain dossiers.
Key policies include the reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the European Green Deal's maritime components, and the Blue Growth strategy promoting sustainable marine sectors across regions like the Mediterranean Sea and the Baltic Sea. Initiatives encompass the establishment of marine protected areas under the Natura 2000 network, support for aquaculture in line with World Wildlife Fund recommendations, and subsidies aligned with the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. DG MARE has advanced programmes tied to Horizon Europe research consortia, pilot projects in offshore wind zones near North Sea countries, and surveillance coordination with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency.
DG MARE engages stakeholders including national ministries of countries like Denmark, Germany, and Italy, industry associations such as European Fisheries Alliance, environmental NGOs including BirdLife International and Greenpeace, and scientific bodies like the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea and the Joint Research Centre. It partners with intergovernmental fora including the South West Atlantic Fisheries Commission and regional seas conventions like the Barcelona Convention and the OSPAR Commission. Other partners include financial institutions such as the European Investment Bank and development agencies active in overseas territories like the French Overseas Departments.
Funding streams for DG MARE stem from the Multiannual Financial Framework and instruments including the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) and successor funds under the European Structural and Investment Funds umbrella. Budget allocation supports enforcement via the European Fisheries Control Agency, research under Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe, and compensation schemes for fleets affected by Brexit adjustments and bilateral access deals with countries such as Greenland and Svalbard. Auditing and oversight involve bodies like the European Court of Auditors and budgetary scrutiny by the European Parliament's Committee on Budgetary Control.
DG MARE has faced criticism over stock assessments and quota allocations linked to reports by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea and advocacy by NGOs such as Oceana. Controversies include disputes over fishing rights post-Brexit, enforcement lapses exposed in the Paradise Papers-era investigations into flags of convenience, and tensions in bilateral negotiations with states such as Morocco over Western Sahara fisheries. Oversight bodies including the European Court of Auditors and investigative committees in the European Parliament have flagged weaknesses in fund management, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing cases investigated by Europol, and challenges balancing industry lobbying from groups like the European Association of Fish Producers Organisations with conservation goals championed by organisations like WWF International.