On Monday and Tuesday, October 27–28, Minister for Agriculture Armands Krauze will take part in the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting in Luxembourg, where ministers will discuss the European Commission’s (EC) proposal for fishing quotas in the Baltic Sea for 2026 and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Green Architecture measures.
The EC proposal for Latvia foresees a 17% reduction in the herring quota in the Gulf of Riga compared to 2025, a 63% reduction in cod by-catch in Latvian waters, and a 27% reduction in salmon by-catch. Meanwhile, for central Baltic herring and sprat, for which scientific advice allows a significant increase in fishing opportunities, the EC proposes quotas at the same level as in 2025.
Minister for Agriculture Armands Krauze states: “We are dissatisfied with this proposal, which contains only negative figures. I believe we must not give in to the European Commission’s overly cautious approach, which does not align with scientific recommendations, the actual state of fish stocks — especially sprat — or the socio-economic situation of the fishing sector. The work of international scientific institutions is being completely ignored, even though — after careful and cautious assessment of all conditions — they have clearly defined the scientifically justified recommendations for maximum allowable catch opportunities.”
At the previous meeting of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council, Minister Krauze already emphasized that fishermen of EU Member States have little influence on the poor ecological state of the Baltic Sea, yet they are the ones being punished through additional fishing restrictions. EU fishermen are increasingly suffering because Russia continues to deliberately increase fishing volumes in the Baltic Sea, particularly for cod — levels that are completely inconsistent with the amounts recommended by researchers.
Minister for Agriculture Armands Krauze adds: “If the European Commission’s proposal for a critical reduction of the cod by-catch quota is adopted, we would have to halt coastal fishing once the tiny quota amount is exhausted. Compared with Russia’s impact on these stocks, this is disproportionate. We are not prepared to accept this.”
EU Member State ministers will also discuss the EC’s proposals for the CAP Green Architecture post-2027. These proposals include merging the two CAP pillars to create a single set of rules for CAP implementation. The EC also proposes abolishing the current practice of earmarking funds for green transition measures, replacing it with a broader contribution through National and Regional Partnership Plans toward achieving EU climate and environmental goals.
In addition, the EC foresees revised governance requirements and protective practices, which would henceforth be referred to as “Farm Stewardship.”