Spain’s Carmen Crespo to lead European Parliament’s fisheries Committee

1 month ago 18

Carmen Crespo Díaz, a Spanish lawmaker from the European People’s Party (EPP), was elected by acclamation chair of the European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee on Tuesday (23 July), an appointment welcomed by the industry and environmental NGOs.

Four vice presidents were also elected: Sander Smit (EPP, the Netherlands), Giuseppe Milazzo (ECR, Italy), Stéphanie Yon-Courtin (Renew, France), and Jessica Polfjärd (EPP, Sweden).

‘‘We are going to try to do better for European fisheries, and I am convinced that we are going to work for five years for a sector that is very vulnerable and important for our communities,” said the newly elected Spanish MEP from Andalusia, where she was responsible for agriculture and fisheries policy.

Regional roots

Crespo’s origins from a territory dedicated to food production were welcomed by both industry representatives and environmental associations.

Europe’s leading industrial fisheries representative Europêche told Euractiv that Crespo’s election was welcome because of her “deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the fisheries sector,” as well as her “extensive background in both local and regional governance”.

This, the lobby added, “puts her in a good position to steer the Commission towards sustainable fisheries policies for the benefit of coastal communities”.

NGOs highlighted the same assets. “Carmen has considerable influence within the EPP and a strong regional political background,” Natividad Sanchez, the director of communications at Oceana Europe, told Euractiv.

“Her tenure as the regional minister for agriculture, fisheries, water, and rural development in Andalusia suggests she will focus on better integrating regional fisheries management with broader EU objectives,” she added.

NGOs’ warning

Nonetheless, the NGOs fear the EPP could support the industry’s interests. The focus on economic growth, the hobbyhorse of the centre-right, could “potentially be at the expense of environmental protection,” Sanchez said.

“We hope Ms Crespo’s new leadership will also place significant emphasis on strengthening the environmental aspects of fisheries management to achieve a truly sustainable future for the sector,” Sanchez concluded.