EC acknowledges Viet Nam’s commitment to combating IUU fishing

On the occasion of the EC mission’s survey on combating IUU fishing in Viet Nam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received the European Commission (EC) inspection team regarding Viet Nam’s progress in tackling IUU fishing.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that this inspection visit holds significant importance. He also noted that the recent visit of the President of the European Council to Viet Nam and the upgrading of the Viet Nam - EU relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership mark a historic milestone, reflecting a new qualitative development with higher stature, broader cooperation scope, and greater strategic depth in Viet Nam - EU relations.

Prime Minister highly appreciated the EU’s central role, strategic voice, and global influence, affirming that Viet Nam attaches special importance to and seeks to further strengthen its relationship with the EU - one of Viet Nam’s leading partners in economy, trade, and investment. He noted that the EU is a pioneer in promoting sustainable development trends, green growth, circular economy, free and balanced trade. These areas fully align with Viet Nam’s development orientation in the new period.

Assessing Viet Nam-  EU relations, the Prime Minister expressed satisfaction with the positive developments over 35 years of diplomatic relations (1990-2025). The effective implementation of the Viet Nam - EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has helped make the EU Viet Nam’s fourth-largest trading partner, while Viet Nam is the EU’s largest trading partner in ASEAN. Cooperation in areas such as defense and security, climate change, agriculture, justice, science and technology, and environment is also expanding, offering significant potential.

The Prime Minister emphasized that Viet Nam seeks to promote cooperation with other countries, including the EU, on sustainable ocean development, such as marine research, marine environmental protection, the blue economy, and responsible fisheries management, including efforts to combat IUU fishing.

He noted that Viet Nam is vigorously implementing measures to complete the legal framework, control the origin of seafood, monitor fishing vessel activities, and strictly handle violations. The Prime Minister also requested that the EC inspection team acknowledge Viet Nam’s efforts and continue supporting the country in transitioning its fisheries development model toward a modern, sustainable approach to ensure fishermen's livelihoods while maintaining a stable and uninterrupted supply to the EU market, thereby contributing to food security.

Mr. Fernando Andresen Guimaraes thanked Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, and representatives of Viet Nam’s ministries and agencies for receiving the delegation. He noted that the EC inspection team had conducted field visits to Ho Chi Minh City, Khanh Hoa, and Dak Lak, carrying out a comprehensive review of Viet Nam’s implementation of the EC’s IUU recommendations. The team initially acknowledged Viet Nam’s collective efforts, particularly the government’s commitment and determination, as well as the close and decisive guidance of the Vietnamese leadership.

Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, Head of the National Steering Committee on IUU, held meetings with the EC inspection team to discuss the outcomes of their mission and to work with relevant departments and agencies in Ho Chi Minh City, Khanh Hoa, Dak Lak, and Hanoi.

With the goal of developing a sustainable and environmentally friendly fisheries sector, the Deputy Prime Minister expressed his desire to promote cooperation with EU partners in aquaculture, helping Viet Nam gradually shift from capture fisheries to aquaculture, while developing marine services and coastal tourism sustainably.

Before, Prime Minister explicitly stated that the dual, highest objective is to simultaneously develop the fisheries sector sustainably and in the long term (reducing offshore fishing which carries many risks and boosting aquaculture, deep processing, creating jobs, livelihoods, contributing to improving the material and spiritual lives of the people); and remove the IUU yellow card per the EU's recommendations.

This contributes to a growth rate of 10% or more for the rapid, sustainable development of the country, for the legal and legitimate interests, happiness, and prosperity of the people, and for the honor and prestige of the country and the nation.