EFCA session: 20 years of uniform and effective control and inspection

2025 marks the 20-year anniversary of EFCA´s founding regulation of 2005. The Agency purpose is ensuring a high, uniform and effective level of control, inspection and compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy, including its external dimension. Its cooperation model has contributed to fisheries sustainability and a level playing field.

Taking stock of the 20 years of EFCA is an opportunity to:

1. Raise awareness of the importance of harmonised and efficient fisheries control and of fostering a culture of compliance

2. Acknowledging the vital role of EU Fisheries inspectors

Marking two decades of the EFCA presents an opportunity to acknowledge progress, draw lessons, and look ahead. This session will look for a forward-looking perspective by addressing key questions, such as how control and inspection practices have evolved, how EFCA’s intervention has contributed to better coordination between Member States and better inspection practices, what still needs to be done to ensure better compliance with the CFP, how external factors – such as new technologies, , EFCA's role in operating patrol vessels – have impacted fisheries control.

The session aims to present in a practical way the cooperation model that EFCA represents for the EU. EU inspectors will be at the center of this session. Their testimonies will be around common themes, such as:

• how the inspector job has evolved,

• the added value of EU cooperation,

• key challenges on the ground,

• what is needed to improve the inspector profession in the future,

• how EFCA has contributed to exchanging best practices and level the playing field for inspections in the EU.

This would highlight the human dimension of fisheries control and encourage a forward-looking reflection on the role of fisheries inspectors in the years to come