EU countries push for weaker environmental safeguards in fishing sector funding rules

BRUSSELS — EU national governments want to weaken a European Commission proposal linking funding for the fishing industry to broader environmental objectives under the bloc’s next long-term budget . The move comes as political talks on the size of the EU budget and whether the bloc should prioritize green goals grow tense, with EU officials and diplomats aiming to strike a deal before the end of the year. In its €2 trillion seven-year budget proposal — known as the multi-annual financial framework — the Commission set conditions for fisheries funding to ensure that EU money also contributes to the bloc's marine conservation and blue economy objectives.