This InBrief sets out to compare the European Union (EU) approaches on fisheries (including fleets and market access) in the different Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) concluded over the last decade and the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement (Cotonou Partnership Agreement -CPA).
It first provides an overview of the international trade in fish and fishery products. This includes a review of international trade agreements and arrangements as undertaken through multilateral negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) organisations and the World Trade Organization (WTO).
A brief background is also provided on the EU’s fisheries policies for fleet access to distant water fishing grounds and for supplying its market with fish.
The InBrief then outlines the main features and common aspects of the fisheries provisions in the various FTAs concluded by the EU. The fisheries components of the particular FTAs with the MED countries, South Africa Mexico, and Chile are highlighted and discussed.
Finally it sets out to establish some common themes and trends in EU FTAs.