On the afternoon of Tuesday 17th February 2026, the International Affairs Committee (IAC) met with a delegation of the European Parliament Committee on Fisheries led by MEP Emma Wiesner on a working mission to Seychelles. The meeting was led by Chairperson Hon. Egbert Aglae, accompanied by Vice-Chairperson Hon. Trevor Louise, Hon. Andy Labonte, Hon. Johan Loze, Hon. Alvin Grandcourt, Hon. Denise Clarisse, and Hon. Wavel Woodcock.
Following welcoming remarks and introductions, MEP Wiesner took the opportunity to acknowledge the lengthy partnership the EU has sustained with Seychelles, spanning some 41 years. She expressed her optimism for the successful settlement of negotiations on the Seychelles Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) due to expire in the coming week, and sought the support of the IAC in the coming discussions.
The Committee was briefed on the delegation’s upcoming itinerary during their visit, which is aimed at observing the progress made by Seychelles on sustainable fishing, the fight against IUU (illegal, unreported and unregulated) fishing, fisheries control, data collection, and infrastructural development. Hon. Aglae similarly acknowledged the relevance and outlook of the agreement nationally, expressing his concerns on the general lack of parliamentary input during such discussions.
Dialogues turned to the contentious aspects of the SFPA negotiations, including the remuneration of Seychelles. By contrast, emphasis was placed on the mutual benefits gained throughout the years of its implementation, ranging from preferential taxation mechanisms to the application of infrastructural development within the food security and sustainability sector. The meeting concluded with both parties positively affirming their intentions to maintain such parliamentary dialogues through partnership, especially with the urgency of the negotiations of the SFPA. With thanks for the opportunity to meet, the engagement came to a close with a souvenir photograph.
