MAICh Strengthens CIHEAM’s Role in EU Blue Economy Policy

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A CIHEAM delegation led by Secretary General Teodoro Miano, accompanied by George Baourakis, Director of CIHEAM Chania, held a highlevel meeting in Brussels with European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Kostas Kadis, to discuss prospects for enhanced cooperation between the Organization and the European Commission. The dialogue focused on ocean governance, sustainable fisheries, aquaculture and the blue economy in the Mediterranean—areas of growing strategic importance for the European Union.

The meeting carried particular significance, as Commissioner Kadis, originally from Cyprus, is himself an alumnus of CIHEAM Chania. His presence underscored the longstanding ties CIHEAM has cultivated with successive generations of political leaders, scientists and institutional actors across the Mediterranean. MAICh, as one of CIHEAM’s four Mediterranean Agronomic Institutes, has played a pivotal role in strengthening scientific collaboration, research and capacity building, positioning Crete as a regional hub for expertise in food systems, fisheries, aquaculture and sustainable natural resource management.

The discussions took place at a moment when the European Commission is conducting strategic consultations to shape future EU policies on oceans, fisheries, aquaculture, coastal communities and the blue economy, within the framework of the European Ocean Pact. Commissioner Kadis expressed strong interest in CIHEAM’s participation in the development and implementation of upcoming European initiatives. He highlighted the extensive expertise built by CIHEAM’s institutes and the Organization’s long experience in research, higher education, training, capacity development and regional cooperation. CIHEAM’s scientific knowledge and technical capabilities were recognized as essential assets for designing and implementing future EU policies in the Mediterranean.

The meeting emphasized the alignment between the European Commission’s priorities and CIHEAM’s work on sustainable marine resource management. Particular attention was given to sustainable aquaculture, the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, the protection of marine and coastal ecosystems, and the links between ocean governance and the transition to sustainable food systems—key priorities for both the European Union and the United Nations.

Both sides stressed the importance of strengthening synergies between CIHEAM initiatives and those of the DirectorateGeneral for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), with the aim of fully mobilizing CIHEAM’s scientific expertise, training capacities, knowledge networks and policy dialogue platforms. MAICh’s strong presence in Crete reinforces this cooperation, serving as a bridge between research, education and regional development, and offering the EU a stable scientific and institutional foundation for Mediterranean policy.

Several CIHEAM initiatives already contributing to these goals were presented, including the SASPA project (Fisheries and Aquaculture in the Transition to Sustainable Food Systems). The project supports the transformation of fisheries and aquaculture value chains towards more sustainable food systems, fostering dialogue among public authorities, researchers, professionals and stakeholders. It promotes an integrated approach linking production, consumption, nutrition and sustainability.

The CIHEAM General Secretariat also contributes to this dynamic by supporting the initiative and organizing events dedicated to the role of fisheries and aquaculture in the transition to sustainable food systems. More broadly, discussions highlighted CIHEAM’s contribution to European priorities through its work on sustainable food systems, coastal resilience, research and innovation, skills development and scientific cooperation across the Mediterranean.

The exchange also explored ways to strengthen Cyprus’s participation in CIHEAM activities. Both sides emphasized the value of developing new forms of collaboration with the country, in line with the “One CIHEAM” approach, which seeks to mobilize the Organization’s complementary expertise for the benefit of the Mediterranean region as a whole.

The meeting concluded with an agreement to organize a followup session to present CIHEAM’s activities, projects and expertise in ocean governance, fisheries, aquaculture and the blue economy in greater detail, and to identify specific areas of cooperation with the European Commission. The followup session will provide an opportunity to explore how CIHEAM’s scientific, technical and institutional knowledge can support the design and implementation of future European policies for oceans, fisheries and the blue economy.