European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries
![]() | It has been suggested that European Commissioner for the Environment be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since December 2021. |
The Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries is a member of the European Commission. The current Commissioner is Virginijus Sinkevičius, who also serves as EU Commissioner for the Environment.
The portfolio includes policies such as the Common Fisheries Policy, which is largely a competence of the European Union rather than the members. The Union has 66,000 km of coastline[1] and the largest Exclusive Economic Zone in the world, covering 25 million km2.[2] They also participate in meetings of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council (Agrifish) configuration of the Council of the European Union.
Commissioner Joe Borg (2004 to 2010)[]
Commissioner Borg was approved by the European Parliament in 2004 and served until 2010. His two main priorities were "setting the European Union on the path towards a European Maritime Policy" and "securing the ecological, economic and social sustainability of the European fishing and aquaculture industry" [3] On 7 June 2006 the European Commission published a green paper on a future Maritime Policy and opened a consultation that ended in June 2007 .[4] The green paper addressed a number of issues such as sustainable development, protection of the environment, skills and employment, technology and resources, coastal safety and tourism, financial support and heritage.[5] On 10 October 2007 the European Commission presented its vision for an integrated maritime policy with a detailed action plan[6] The Commission came under fire in May 2007 for not penalising French fishermen for over-fishing the threatened bluefin tuna by 65% while backing penalties on Irish fishermen for over-fishing mackerel[7]
List of commissioners[]
Name | Country | Period | Commission | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Franz Fischler | ![]() |
1999–2004 | Prodi Commission |
2 | Sandra Kalniete | ![]() |
2004 | Prodi Commission |
3 | Joe Borg | ![]() |
2004–2010 | Barroso Commission I |
4 | Maria Damanaki | ![]() |
2010–2014 | Barroso Commission II |
5 | Karmenu Vella | ![]() |
2014–2019 | Juncker Commission |
6 | Virginijus Sinkevičius | ![]() |
since 2019 | von der Leyen Commission |
See also[]
- Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
- Common Fisheries Policy
- Agriculture and Fisheries Council (Council of the European Union)
- European Parliament Committee on Fisheries
- European Fisheries Control Agency
External links[]
- Commissioner's Website
- Commission Fisheries Website
- Commission Maritime Website
- Maritime Affairs News
References[]
- ^ European Union CIA World Factbook
- ^ EU Glossary Archived 9 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine europa.eu
- ^ Joe Borg priorities from Europa archives
- ^ Consultation on Maritime Policy Archived 19 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Green paper Archived 25 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ integrated maritime policy action plan
- ^ Fishermen citicise EU over-fishing decision rte.it
- Portfolios in the European Commission
- European Union fishing regulations