On the afternoon of March 19, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received the inspection team of the European Commission (EC) led by Mr. Fernando Andresen Guimaraes, Director of the Department of International Oceans Administration and Sustainable Fishing, who came to Vietnam to conduct the 5th inspection on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam cooperates with the EU in combating IUU fishing with a receptive spirit of "listening with sincerity, sharing with feelings from the heart and committing with specific actions".
The EU is Vietnam's 4th largest trading partner; while Vietnam is the EU's largest trading partner in ASEAN and the 16th largest in the world, with total bilateral trade turnover in 2025 reaching nearly 74 billion USD. Currently, the EU is Vietnam's 6th largest investor.
Believing that along with the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement, the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) is of great significance, creating new momentum to promote Vietnam-EU investment, helping EU businesses connect with ASEAN, the Prime Minister believes that, with common efforts and great cooperation potential, the relationship between Vietnam and the EU and member countries will continue to develop further in the coming time.
Emphasizing that in recent years Vietnam has made efforts to combat IUU fishing, not only for the concern and recommendations of the EC but for the sustainable development of fisheries and for the prestige and honor of Vietnam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sincerely thanked the EC for accompanying Vietnam in this process. Over the years, Vietnam has proactively cooperated and closely coordinated with EC functional agencies in combating IUU fishing.
The Government, ministries, branches, localities, the business community and Vietnamese fishermen have made efforts to synchronously and drastically implement policies and solutions to prevent and combat IUU fishing.
Vietnam promotes the construction and completion of a system of legal regulations on combating IUU fishing; strictly punish violations of IUU fishing; strictly manage the fleet; strictly control the origin of imported seafood; have mechanisms and policies to support and encourage vocational conversion for fishermen, ensure livelihoods for people, and limit cases of IUU fishing violations.
On the basis of the Vietnam - EU Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and with the spirit of receptiveness "listening with sincerity, sharing with feelings from the heart and committing with specific actions", the Prime Minister said that Vietnam continues to cooperate closely in combating IUU fishing; wishing and believing that the EC will consider and remove the IUU yellow card for Vietnamese seafood, contributing to bringing Vietnam - EU cooperation and with EU member countries to continue to develop strongly, substantively and more effectively in the coming time.
Mr. Fernando Andresen Guimaraes and the EC delegation expressed their honor and thanked Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh for taking the time to receive the delegation; showing clear signals and strong commitment from the Vietnamese Government in combating IUU fishing.
The head of the EC delegation said that the EC has been interested in and accompanied Vietnam in combating IUU fishing for more than 8 years and has seen very impressive efforts and progress of Vietnam over the years in implementing commitments to combat IUU fishing. Vietnam has built a strong control system in seafood exploitation, especially in installing VMS fishing vessel monitoring equipment, tracing the origin of seafood...
Mr. Fernando Andresen Guimaraes and members of the delegation completely believe that Vietnam will overcome its limitations, meet the requirements and recommendations of the EC, and achieve the goal of good fisheries management.
