Ladies and gentlemen,

I am delighted to participate in the event titled Climate Change and Environmental Policy: Time is Running, organized by the Socialists and Democrats group of the European Parliament and the Office of MEP Sakis Arnaoutoglou. I warmly congratulate the organizers, academics, speakers, television stations, journalists, coordinators, and all who participate in this event. 

The format of the event, the very interesting topics emphasized, and the distinguished speakers guarantee its success.

As the title of the event suggests, regarding environmental protection issues, indeed time is running out! As the European Unions Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, and as a member of the scientific community, I assure you that we are deeply aware of the serious impacts of the triple planetary crisis caused by climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

My responsibilities as Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans include ensuring the common fishing, economic, and environmental sustainability of the fishing and aquaculture sector, while simultaneously promoting the restoration and resilience of our oceans. The connection between them is undeniable, as without a healthy ocean we cannot have fisheries, and without fisheries, we cannot have fishermen. Already in several regions of the planet, including EU seas, the pressures exerted on the marine ecosystem have led to the collapse of specific fish stocks with adverse effects on the fishing sector. The most characteristic example in Europe is that of the Baltic Sea, however, we are facing similar problems in the Mediterranean.