Dear Director Steele, representatives of the Cypriot authorities, EFCA and Commission colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,

I am delighted to welcome you to my home country, Cyprus, and to the beautiful city of Limassol for the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA). With its rich maritime heritage, Limassol is the ideal backdrop for todays gathering.

What makes this event even more special is that we are onboard the Ocean Sentinel, one of EFCAs offshore patrol vessels patrolling in the Mediterranean Sea. These vessels are the symbols of mutual trust and the EUs unwavering commitment to safeguarding our marine resources through Joint Deployment Plans under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

I would like, first and foremost, to recall last weeks search and rescue operation south of Crete, during which the Ocean Sentinel rescued migrants in distress. I thank the crew and EFCA staff for their professionalism and for the effective cooperation with the Greek national authorities that made this operation possible.

As we reflect on EFCAs journey over the past two decades, we see an agency that has profoundly influenced fisheries governance across Europe. It has played a vital role in promoting common standards for control, inspection and surveillance under the European Common Fisheries Policy.

Its vigilance in the Mediterranean has played a critical role in combatting illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, especially from third countries, thereby greatly contributing to the sustainability of vital marine ecosystems.

The implementation of international inspection schemes, developed by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), highlights EFCAs important role in the Mediterranean. Combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing is key to ensuring a level playing field between European fishers and those from other countries in the Mediterranean.

I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Susan Steele for her exceptional leadership. Her guidance has solidified EFCA as a cornerstone of EU fisheries governance, and I am thrilled to announce her second term starting in September 2026.

Equally essential is the dedication of the EFCA team, whose tireless efforts in operations, coordination, and data analysis drive the Agencys success. Because at the heart of these operations are people who bring them to life. I would like to acknowledge the men and women in the field: the inspectors from Member States working alongside EFCA on joint missions. Their diligent enforcement of fisheries rules ensures that they are applied fairly and consistently across the EU and beyond. Their expertise and commitment are the backbone of our shared mission.

Furthermore, EFCAs work is reinforced through inter-agency cooperation. Since 2016, EFCA has collaborated closely with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and Frontex to support EU Coast Guard functions. This partnership has improved coordination at sea, enhanced information sharing, and strengthened our response to evolving maritime challenges.

Looking ahead, I need to mention two important initiatives related to EFCAs work.

Firstly, we will work on the implementation of the revised fisheries Control Regulation, which advances the digital transition of fisheries control and further strengthens EFCAs role.

Secondly, we are focusing on enhancing international fisheries management in the Mediterranean through the GFCM, aiming to ensure a level playing field among all the Mediterranean countries and foster a culture of compliance. This supports sustainable fisheries, prevents illegal practices, and establishes robust fisheries governance in the region. In this context, an initiative for combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing has been included in the recently approved Pact for the Mediterranean. EFCA will have an important role to play in the implementation of this initiative.

Κυρίες και &k;ύριοι, αγαπητοί φίλες και φίλοι,

Είναι μεγάλη χαρά μου που βρίσκομαι στην πατρίδα μου, την &K;ύπρο, για να τιμήσουμε τα 20 χρόνια λειτουργείας της Ευρωπαϊκής Υπηρεσίας &E;λέγχου της Αλιείας και των επιθεωρητών της Μεσογείου, που διαδραματίζουν κρίσημο ρόλο στην αντιμετωπιση των παράνομων αλιευτικών πρακτικών, κυρίως απο τρίτες χώρες.

Ενόψει της ανάληψης της Προεδρίας του Συμβουλίου της &E;υρωπαϊκής ‘&E;νωσης από την &K;ύπρο, δράττομαι της ευκαιρίας να αναφερθ&ώ σε μερικές απο τις πιο σημαντικές πρωτοβουλίες &k;άτω απο &τ;ο &χ;αρτο&φ;υλάκιο μου, &π;ου &θ;α &α;να&δ;ει&χ;θο&ύν &κ;ατά &τ;&η; &δ;&ι;άρ&κ;&ε;&ι;&α; &τ;&η;&σf; &ε;&ξ;ά&μ;&η;&ν;&η;&σf; &π;&ρ;ο&ε;&δ;&ρ;ί&α;&σf;:

  • &Η; &ο;&ρ;&γ;ά&ν;&ω;&σ;&η; &τ;&ω;ν &Ε;&υ;&ρ;&ω;&π;&α;&ϊ;&κ;ώ;ν &Η;&μ;&ε;&ρ;&ώ;ν &Θ;&ά&λ;&α;&σ;&σ;&α;&σf; &π;ου &θ;α &λ;ά&β;ο&υ;ν &χ;&ώ;ρ&α; &ε;&δ;ώ &σ;τ&η; &Λ;&ε;&μ;&ε;&σ;ό
  • &Η; &υ;&ι;ο&θ;έ&τ;&η;&σ;&η; &τ;&η;&σf; &Ε;&υ;&ρ;&ω;&π;α&ϊ;&κ;ή&σf; &π;ρωτο&β;ουλί&α&σf; &γ;ια &τ;&η;ν &π;αρακαλούθ&η;σ&η; &τ;ου &Ω;κεανού
  • &Η; &π;αρουσία&σ;η &τ;&η;&σf; &Ε;&υ;&ρ;&ω;&π;α&ϊ;&κ;ή&σf; &σ;τρατ&η;γική&σf; &γ;ια &τ;α &ν;&η;σι&ά; &κ;αι &τ;&η;&σf; &π;αρακτιες &κ;οινοτητες
  • &Τ;ο &Σ;υνέ&δ;ριο &υ;ψηλού &ε;&π;ιπεδου &γ;ια &τ;&η; &β;ι&ώσιμη &α;&λ;&ι;εία &κ;αι &ι;χθυοκαλλιεργεια &σ;τη &Μ;εσό&γ;ειο &μ;ε &τ;η &σ;υμμετοχή &τ;ρίτ&ω;ν &χ;ωρών &τ;η&σf; &π;εριοχή&σf;
  • &Η; &π;αρουσία&σ;η &τ;&ω;ν &α;ποτελεσμά&τ;&ω;ν &τ;&η;&σf; &α;ξιολό&γ;&η;σ&η;ς &τ;&η;&σf; &Κ;οιν&ή&σf; &Α;&λ;&ι;ευτική&σf; &Π;ολιτική&σf;

Είμαι πεπεισμένος για την επιτυχία της Κυπριακής Προεδρίας και προβλέπω στην αγαθή συνεργασία μεταξύ Επιτροπής και Κυπριακής Προεδρίας για την προώθηση των προτεραιοτήτων που αφορούν την Αλιεία και τον Ωκεανό.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In closing, I want to thank everyone who contributes to EFCAs mission – the Agency staff, the Commission, Member States, and our partners. Together, we are laying a strong foundation for a sustainable maritime future.

So, let us take pride in our achievements and find inspiration in these to tackle new challenges.