SECOND DECLARATION BY THE EUROPEAN FISHING COMMUNITIES

The Santiago Declaration is an ongoing project, if you represent a coastal of fishing constituency, live or work in a fishing community please contact us. See also the Press release 

SECOND DECLARATION BY THE EUROPEAN FISHING COMMUNITIES ON THE FUTURE OF THE FISHERIES SECTOR IN EUROPE AFTER BREXIT

Mr. Michel,

Mr. Barnier,

Almost three years ago, on October 23rd 2017, representatives of coastal communities from across the European Union gathered in Santiago de Compostela to jointly call upon European governments, the European Council, the European Commission, and the European Parliament to make fisheries a priority in the Brexit negotiations and thereby safeguard the economic and social future of hundreds of European Communities.

As the Brexit negotiations are now entering their final stretch and Heads of State and Government are gathering in Brussels to take stock of the negotiations, this message, enshrined in the Santiago Declaration, is as true and as urgent as it ever was. It is now more necessary than ever for fisheries to be a priority in the Brexit negotiations.

To our communities and countless European citizens, Fisheries is more than an economic activity. It is at the heart of the social, cultural and economic fabric of hundreds of ports, towns and cities across the European Union. As recalled in the Santiago declaration, the fishing industry is the reflection of our shared culture and shared traditions in Europe. It has, for centuries, shaped lives and values throughout the continent and provided food for millions of Europeans.

We welcome the European Union’s decision to take a strong stance in favour of a Brexit agreement that reflects the historical and practical realities of the fishing grounds that EU and UK fishermen have shared for centuries. The EU’s commitment to upholding existing access rights to fishing grounds and current allocation of fishing opportunities is an important signal to fishermen and all those in their communities that depend on them.

We, the undersigned representatives of fishing communities from across the EU call upon you, Mr. Barnier and the Heads of State and Government of the 27 EU Member States gathering in Brussels to uphold these European values we share, stand by the objectives set out in the negotiation guidelines and preserve the future of communities and the fishermen that support them.

Today, as in October 2017, we stand united to safeguard the social and economic future of our fishing communities and fishing industry. We hope that you will join us in standing up for them and secure a long-term Brexit agreement that does them justice to our fishing communities and their people.

Signed in Santiago de Compostela, on June 20, 2020

Spanish Version

SEGUNDA CARTA DE SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

DECLARACIÓN DAS COMUNIDADES EUROPEAS DE PESCA SOBRE O FUTURO DO SECTOR PESQUEIRO EN EUROPA DESPOIS DO BREXIT

Señor Michel, Señor Barnier,

Hai case tres anos, o 23 de outubro de 2017, representantes de comunidades costeiras de toda a Unión Europea reuníronse en Santiago de Compostela para chamar conxuntamente aos gobernos europeos, ao Consello Europeo, á Comisión Europea e ao Parlamento Europeo para que a pesca fose prioritaria nas negociacións sobre o Brexit e salvagardar así o futuro económico e social de centos de comunidades europeas.

A medida que as negociacións sobre o Brexit entran na súa recta final e os xefes de Estado e de goberno están reunidos en Bruxelas para facer un balance das negociacións, esta mensaxe, consagrada na Declaración de Santiago, é tan verdadeira e tan urxente como nunca. Agora é máis necesario ca nunca que a pesca sexa prioritaria nas negociacións sobre o Brexit.

Para as nosas comunidades e incontables cidadáns europeos, a pesca é máis que unha actividade económica. Está no cerne do tecido social, cultural e económico de centos de portos, cidades e cidades da Unión Europea. Como se lembra na declaración de Santiago, a industria pesqueira é o reflexo da nosa cultura e tradicións compartidas en Europa. Forma, durante séculos, vidas e valores en todo o continente e proporcionou alimento a millóns de europeos.

Damos a benvida á decisión da Unión Europea de adoptar unha posición forte a favor dun acordo sobre o Brexit que reflicta as realidades históricas e prácticas dos caladoiros que os pescadores da UE e do Reino Unido comparten durante séculos. O compromiso da UE por defender os dereitos de acceso existentes aos caladoiros e a asignación actual das oportunidades de pesca é un sinal importante para os pescadores e todos os que están nas súas comunidades que dependen deles.

Nós, os representantes de comunidades pesqueiras de toda a UE, chamámoslle a vostede, señor Barnier, e aos xefes de Estado e de Goberno dos 27 Estados membros da UE que se reúnen en Bruxelas para defender estes valores europeos que compartimos, a que manteñan os obxectivos establecidos en as pautas de negociación e preservar o futuro das comunidades e dos pescadores que as apoian.

Hoxe, como en outubro de 2017, mantémonos unidos para salvagardar o futuro social e económico das nosas comunidades pesqueiras e da industria pesqueira.

Desexamos que se unan a nós para defendernos e garantir un acordo Brexit a longo prazo que lles faga xustiza ás nosas comunidades pesqueiras e ás súas xentes.

Asinado en Santiago de Compostela, o 20 de xuño de 2020

The Santiago Declaration was first launched in October 2017, you will find the original declaration here 

Asinantes – Signatories