Official screening for Negotiation Chapter 13: Fisheries and Aquaculture concludes in Brussels

Ukraine has completed screening meetings with the European Commission for Negotiation Chapter 13: Fisheries and Aquaculture

On September 25-26, a Ukrainian delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and Chief Negotiator Taras Kachka presented the progress of aligning national legislation in the fields of fisheries and aquaculture with EU standards.

The delegation included representatives from the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture, led by Deputy Minister Taras Vysotsky, as well as Oleksandr Haidu, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Agrarian and Land Policy, representatives of the State Agency of Fisheries, and members of parliament.

The discussions focused on several key areas, including:

- Development of aquaculture and its alignment with European standards;

- Mechanisms to prevent and combat corruption in the fisheries sector;

- Cooperation with Regional Fisheries Management Organizations;

- Implementation of Maritime Spatial Planning as a tool for sustainable marine resource management;

- Structural support for the fisheries sector;

- Rules for providing state aid in the fisheries sector in line with EU acquis.

"Aligning Ukraine’s legislation with EU standards in fisheries and aquaculture is key to the sustainable development of the sector, environmental resilience, and new socio-economic opportunities. The outcomes of this bilateral meeting confirm Ukraine’s readiness to start negotiations and reaffirm that a European future is both realistic and achievable," emphasized Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture Taras Vysotskyi.

Background Information

The screening for Chapter 13 is part of Cluster 5: Resources, Agriculture, and Cohesion Policy, which includes five negotiation chapters: 11 (Agriculture and Rural Development), 12 (Food Safety, Veterinary, and Phytosanitary Policy), 13 (Fisheries and Aquaculture), 22 (Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments), and 33 (Financial and Budgetary Provisions).

Following the screening, the European Commission will prepare a report with recommendations for further implementation of EU legislation into Ukraine’s legal framework, serving as the basis for the next stage of Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations.