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About RCGs

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ABOUT RCGs

As the main hub for cooperation in the collection and management of fisheries data across the European Union, the Regional Coordination Groups (RCGs) provide the practical framework to manage coordination at regional level.

The sections below describe how the RCGs operate in practice, including the frameworks and internal processes that support coordination, as well as the planning and delivery of activities and outputs over the year.

Full information on the RCGs and how they operate is available here.

Organisation and Governance

The Regional Coordination Groups operate within the EU Data Collection Framework and are organised by participating EU Member States, in cooperation with the European Commission. Their organisation is based on a flexible and dynamic structure, allowing activities to adapt to the particular needs of each marine region or specific fisheries.

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Governance is defined through Rules of Procedure (RoPs), which establish the scope of each RCG, as well as roles, responsibilities and decision-making procedures. In some cases, common RoPs are applied across groups to support coherence and consistency.

The work of the RCGs is organised through Terms of Reference (ToRs) agreed by their members, which define specific tasks and objectives, identify the issues to be addressed and outline expected outputs and timelines. ToRs allow work to be structured and priorities adjusted in response to emerging coordination needs.

Roles and Responsibilities

RCGs bring together the main actors involved in fisheries data collection, coordination and use under the Data Collection Framework. This includes EU Member States, supported by the European Commission and a dedicated Secretariat, as well as data end users and, where appropriate, other stakeholders and third countries relevant to specific coordination contexts.

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  • EU Member States participate through designated National Correspondents and appointed experts.
    • National Correspondents (NCs) act as focal points for coordination under the DCF, ensuring alignment between national data collection activities, RCG work and exchanges with the European Commission.
    • National experts are appointed by Member States to contribute to RCG activities according to their areas of expertise and the specific topics addressed by the group or its subgroups.
  • RCG chairperson(s) facilitate the effective functioning of the groups, including the organisation of meetings, coordination of intersessional work, and reporting on RCG activities and outcomes. Chairing arrangements are defined in each RCG’s Rules of Procedure and follow a rotating system among Member States, with some RCGs applying co-chairing schemes.
  • ISSG chairperson(s) facilitate intersessional work on specific Thematic Focus Areas, coordinate with the RCG chairs, report during the technical meetings on the work carried out by the subgroup and contribute to the elaboration of the technical report.
  • RCGs Secretariat supports the RCGs network by assisting chairpersons in the preparation and follow-up of meetings and the elaboration of reports, supporting intersessional work, maintaining shared repositories and tools, and facilitating coordination and information flows within and across groups.
  • The European Commission ensures the implementation of the Data Collection Framework, participates in RCG activities and facilitates coordination across groups, particularly where issues affect more than one RCG.
  • End users of DCF data participate in RCG meetings to inform data needs, offer feedback on submitted data and provide recommendations related to fisheries data collection. This group includes bodies with a scientific or management role in the analysis and use of fisheries data, such as EU and international advisory organisations.
  • Other stakeholders and third countries. may participate as observers where relevant, when their expertise or involvement relates to the topics under discussion. This may include research organisations, international bodies, project consortia or authorities from third countries sharing the same waters or fisheries, particularly where coordination beyond the EU is needed.

Key Outputs

The RCGs’ coordination efforts result in different outputs that offer means to follow up on agreed actions and contribute to enhanced data collection.

Following discussions during the Annual Meetings, RCGs deliver recommendations and decisions. Recommendations focus on data collection improvement and are addressed to end users or other relevant parties, while decisions concern the RCGs themselves and the Member States involved and relate to organisational and coordination matters. Both specify the actions to be carried out and include the information needed for follow-up.

On a broader timescale, RCGs have a mandate to produce Regional Work Plans (RWPs), which set out procedures and methods for data collection and processing, including quality assurance and quality control, regionally coordinated sampling strategies, conditions for the delivery of data to regional databases, and, where relevant, cost-sharing arrangements for participation in research surveys at sea. RWPs are implemented in three-year cycles, with the first cycle covering the period 2025-2027.

Annual Work Cycle

Annual Technical Meetings

The Annual Technical Meeting is the main RCG event where intersessional work progress is presented and discussed, and decisions and recommendations on future RCG work are drafted. Participation is limited to nominated representatives from EU Member States and the European Commission, with key end users participating on a regular basis. Where relevant, other stakeholders and third countries may be invited to attend as observers, subject to a decision by the RCG.

Intersessional Work

RCGs organise intersessional work to address technical and coordination topics between annual meetings. This work is carried out mainly through Intersessional Subgroups (ISSGs), or, in some cases, through thematic workshops or meetings, based on Terms of Reference agreed by the RCG to define the scope of work and responsibilities.

ISSGs work throughout the year on defined topics, reporting regularly to the RCG and producing annual reports that are discussed at the Annual Technical Meetings. They may also hold dedicated working sessions as part of those meetings. Some ISSGs are long-standing where continuous regional coordination is required, while others are established on an ad hoc basis to address emerging issues, knowledge gaps or new legislative requirements.

Decision Meeting

The Decision Meeting is held following the Annual Technical Meetings to approve decisions and recommendations arising from the RCGs’ work. They bring together National Correspondents and RCG chairpersons, with additional participants invited where needed, and decisions are adopted by consensus before being presented to end users.

Some RCGs also organise pre-decision meetings to support preparation and improve the efficiency of the decision-making process.

Liaison Meeting

The Liaison Meeting is a forum for discussing issues affecting more than one marine region or RCG, with a focus on interaction with data end users. It is organised annually after the RCG Annual Technical Meetings and is formally established as a subgroup of the European Commission (EC) Expert Group on Fisheries Data Collection. The meeting brings together RCG chairpersons and the EC, with representatives of key DCF data end users invited to participate. Other stakeholders may be invited where their expertise is relevant to the topics discussed.

The Liaison Meeting Chair is appointed by the EC and is responsible for preparing the agenda, chairing the meeting and coordinating the preparation of the meeting report, with support from the RCGs Secretariat.

USEFUL LINKS

How scientific advice, observation activities, and data collection are organised and used to inform EU policies on oceans and fisheries

Detailed information on the EU Data Collection Framework, including relevant legislation, methodologies, guidance documents and working groups.