In a written answer to a parliamentary question by Ana Miranda Paz (Verts/ALE), Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, stated that the European Commission has seen the Spanish investigation report into the 2022 sinking of the fishing vessel Villa de Pitanxo but has not been in contact with Spanish authorities on the matter, nor is it aware of any new safety proposals from Spain beyond the report's recommendations.
The answer, published on 28 April 2026, comes four years after the tragedy that killed 21 crew members off the coast of Canada. Commissioner Tzitzikostas noted that the Commission understands the anguish of families of the 12 missing persons but clarified that the underwater search operations in 2023 were designed to support the investigation, not to recover remains.
No concrete proposals from Spain
The Commissioner confirmed that apart from the safety recommendations made by the Spanish Standing Commission for the Investigation of Maritime Accidents and Incidents (CIAIM) in its report, the Commission is not aware of any proposals from Spain for new safety measures to prevent similar accidents. The CIAIM report is publicly available on the European Marine Casualty Information Platform hosted by the European Maritime Safety Agency.
Policy orientation and institutional follow-up
The answer reflects a cautious, non-interventionist stance from the Commission, deferring to member state investigation and recommendations. No new EU-level legislative or regulatory initiatives were announced. The response suggests that further action on maritime safety for fishing vessels will depend on member states' follow-up to the CIAIM recommendations, rather than on a push from the Commission.
Impact on stakeholders - Families of victims: The answer offers no new measures for recovery of remains or enhanced investigation, potentially prolonging uncertainty. - Spanish authorities: No pressure from the Commission to adopt additional safety measures, leaving them to implement CIAIM recommendations at their own pace. - EU fishing industry: No new compliance costs or operational changes are signaled, but the absence of EU action may leave safety gaps unaddressed. - European Maritime Safety Agency: Its role remains limited to hosting the casualty information platform, with no expanded mandate for fishing vessel safety.
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