Commissioner-designate for Oceans and Fisheries, Costas Kadis, presented his priorities in written answers to written questions submitted by the committees of the European Parliament on Fisheries (PECH) and on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), ahead of the hearing which will be held before PECH and with ENVI as the guest on Wednesday 6 November.

In his responses, Kadis outlined his priorities when it comes to balancing the sustainability of fisheries and the protection of biodiversity, and presented his approach on developing the European Ocean Pact.

He also wrote on how he would work with member states towards ensuring a level playing field for EU fishermen with those from third countries, and how the Commission would work against illegal fishing during his mandate, and referred to his approach towards promoting aquaculture,

Kadi's answers, responding to two joint written questions from MEPs to all candidates and a series of specific questions from the PECH and ENVI parliamentary committees, as well as his declaration of financial interests, were published at midnight on Monday on the European Parliament's website along with the relevant documents for all Commissioner-designate candidates ( https://elections.europa.eu/european-commission/el/kadis/ ).

The hearings will take place from 4 to 12 November, with the hearings of the six executive vice-presidential candidates scheduled for the last day. In addition to the written questions, the candidates will be asked to answer questions from individual MEPs which they will not know in advance.

In his declaration of financial interests, Kadis lists only his private bank accounts, five plots of land in Cyprus and his private residence. Regarding his wife's professional status, he states that she works at the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment. Kadis points out that the responsibilities of Department of Fisheries and Maritime Research of the Ministry of Agriculture fall under the Directorate-General for the Environment of the European Commission, therefore not involving any conflict.