European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Mr Kadis, has indicated the Commission is actively considering legislative simplification for the fisheries and aquaculture sector, but stopped short of committing to a targeted omnibus regulation as requested by a member of the European Parliament. In a written answer on 3 July 2026 to a question from Stephen Nikola Bartulica (ECR), Kadis stressed that simplification and reduction of red tape are guiding principles in the Commission's daily policy work, including when preparing implementing rules for the revised Control Regulation. However, he did not promise a fast-track omnibus bill, instead pointing to the ongoing evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) Regulation, published on 30 April 2026, as the basis for deciding on any future legislative revisions.
The answer comes in response to Bartulica's question, which criticised the lengthy, multi-year reform process focused on the CFP Basic Regulation as unacceptable given the urgent challenges facing the sector. The MEP had asked whether the Commission would propose a targeted omnibus regulation to simplify and streamline fisheries legislation, including the Fisheries Control Regulation and the Mediterranean Regulation. Kadis noted that the Commission is actively listening to calls from stakeholders on simplification and, in parallel to discussions on the CFP evaluation follow-up, launched a call for evidence on 26 May 2026 to gather feedback on four EU fisheries Multiannual Management Plans and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), with the consultation open until 21 July 2026.
The policy orientation from the answer is one of cautious openness: the Commission acknowledges the need for simplification but insists on a evidence-based approach, with no concrete timeline for legislative proposals. The expected institutional follow-up includes the Commission drawing conclusions from the CFP evaluation and stakeholder feedback, which could lead to a revision of existing legislation, but no specific date was given. The answer impacts several stakeholders: EU fisheries producers, who face regulatory burdens and seek faster simplification; national authorities, who implement and enforce the rules; EU consumers, who may benefit from more efficient and transparent fisheries management; and environmental NGOs, who may be concerned that simplification could weaken sustainability safeguards. The trade-off is between reducing administrative costs and regulatory complexity for the industry versus maintaining robust environmental and control standards.