EU and Iceland advance ocean cooperation at high-level dialogue in Reykjavik

The European Union and Iceland held today a High-Level Dialogue on ocean cooperation in Reykjavik, reinforcing their shared commitment to sustainable fisheries, Arctic governance, and the blue economy.

Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, met with Iceland's Minister of Industries, Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, to review progress under the EU-Iceland Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed in July 2025. The agreement builds on decades of collaboration, including a bilateral fisheries partnership dating back to 1993, and sets out a framework for deeper cooperation on marine sustainability, scientific research, and the energy transition in the fishing sector.

The discussions focused on several key areas such as arctic cooperation, addressing shared regional challenges; fisheries management, with an emphasis on strengthening stock conservation and quota agreements; and ocean governance, enhancing multilateral engagement in Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) while advancing global initiatives for marine protection and a sustainable blue economy.

Commissioner Kadis said:

"The EU and Iceland are close partners when it comes to the North-East Atlantic. We are facing many of the same challenges, from climate change to pressure on fish stocks, and we need to work closely together. Strengthening cooperation on broader ocean matters, including international ocean governance and our engagement in Regional Fisheries Management Organisations, is essential to ensure sustainable and resilient seas in line with the objectives of the Ocean Pact. That means relying on science, managing our fisheries responsibly, and giving people in the sector more certainty and opportunities. Today's discussions were a good step forward, and I am confident we can build on this cooperation in the years ahead, and the EU-Iceland MoU is a good basis for that."

During his stay, Commissioner Kadis travelled to Grindavík, the coastal town severely impacted by volcanic eruptions since 2023, to meet with local fishers and witness the resilience of Iceland's fishing communities. He also visited the Iceland Ocean Cluster, a leading innovation hub for the circular blue bioeconomy, whose work aligns closely with the EU's European Ocean Pact.

The High-Level Dialogue underscores the EU and Iceland's shared vision for healthy oceans, thriving coastal communities, and a sustainable blue economy.