Kostas Kadis will be in charge of issues relating to the sustainability of coastal communities in the EU, the future of the Common Fisheries Policies, the competitiveness of the fishing sector in the EU and internationally, as well as the development of the EU's overall policy regarding oceans and the environment, according to the mission letter sent by Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, to Cyprus's candidate for the Commission. In her letter, which was published shortly after the announcement of the proposed portfolios, Von der Leyen noted that Kadis will be working under the guidance of the Executive Vice-President for Cohesion, Rafaelle Fitto of Italy, with the support of the Directorate-general for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Commission. Kadis, like all other Commissioners, will now have to appear in a hearing organised by relevant European Parliament committees, before the plenary is called to vote to approve the entire new College of Commissioners. In her letter, Von der Leyen notes that fisheries 'remains the lifeblood of our coastal communities and economies, part of our traditions and essential for our future by ensuring a healthy supply of food to markets across Europe and the world.' She adds that as the EU is a 'major maritime power', oceans are of 'vital importance to our security and competitiveness and to the health of our planet, providing opportunity for many sectors and regulating our climate as the world's greatest carbon sink.' In the context of the Commission's work to secure European food sovereignty, she adds, Kadis should 'develop and implement a long-term vision for a resilient, competitive, and sustainable European fisheries, aquaculture and other blue economy sectors', and ensure that the EU leads global efforts 'to restore the health and security of the world's ocean and support coastal communities across Europe with the unique challenges they face.' More specifically, when it comes to the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the President of the Commission asks Kadis to ensure that it is implemented effectively across all Member States to support the fisheries and aquaculture sectors and their competitiveness across the EU, achieve sustainable fish stocks and to minimize the impact of fishing on the marine ecosystem. Also, she asks of him to complete the evaluation of the CFP and prepare the EU's vision for the sector with a 2040 perspective, and take appropriate measures. Von der Leyen also calls Kadis to work to protect the sector from unfair global competition, including through ensuring access to neighbouring waters, maintain the EU's position on illegal fishing, and working for new partnership agreements with third countries. The main other priority over the next mandate will be the new European Oceans Pact, 'ensuring coherence across all policy areas linked to the oceans', while supporting 'resilient and healthy oceans and coastal areas, promoting the blue economy, managing the use of our seas and oceans coherently and developing a comprehensive agenda for marine knowledge, innovation and investment.' Source: Cyprus News Agency