On 2 July 2026, the European Commission published a proposal for a Council Decision establishing the EU's position for the next three International Whaling Commission (IWC) meetings in 2026, 2028, and 2030, including inter-sessional meetings. The proposal aims to coordinate EU Member States' stance on amendments to the IWC Schedule, resolutions, and decisions, ensuring consistency with EU environmental law and conservation objectives.
The proposed position supports maintaining and fully implementing the commercial whaling moratorium, opposing any new whaling categories that could create loopholes. It insists on strict compliance with the IWC's Revised Management Procedure (RMP) for catch limits and promotes complementary compliance measures, including port-state controls and national prohibitions on commercial whaling. The EU also opposes proposals that frame whaling as essential for food security, keeping IWC focus on conservation, and supports strict conditions for scientific whaling permits, requiring non-lethal alternatives and scientific justification.
On sanctuaries, the EU supports proposals for whale sanctuaries and encourages greater transparency in sanctuary provisions. It backs IWC work on animal welfare, including entanglements, ship strikes, and humane killing methods. The proposal also supports the continued framework for aboriginal subsistence whaling (ASW) with seven-year quotas and automatic renewals under agreed conditions, advocating for a rights-based approach to Indigenous Peoples' whaling, including appropriate terminology and participation.
The proposal ensures EU environmental standards for cetacean protection are reflected internationally, preventing undermining of EU law. It strengthens ocean diplomacy and EU leadership in marine conservation and climate resilience, contributing to global biodiversity targets (e.g., Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework) and EU climate neutrality goals. However, it may face opposition from pro-whaling nations, requiring active diplomacy to achieve three-quarters majority for sanctuary proposals. The proposal provides legal certainty and multi-year predictability for EU Member States' voting at IWC meetings, aligning IWC conservation work with EU policies on marine strategy, nature restoration, and animal welfare.
The Council will now consider the proposal. If adopted, it will guide EU Member States' positions at the IWC meetings, with potential impacts on whaling nations, conservation NGOs, and the fishing industry.