Brussels, 29/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 2 December, the European Commission is due to adopt the proposal on the new European fund for maritime affairs and fisheries (FEAMP), covering the period 2014-2020. With a total budget of €6.5 billion, the fund will replace the current European Fisheries Fund (EFF), which reaches expiry at the end of 2013. The new fund (corresponding more or less to a stabilised budget compared to 2007-2013) is designed to implement important changes provided for in the proposals on reform of the common fisheries policy (CFP), namely, and especially, fishing practice that is less harmful for fish stocks. The FEAMP takes into account the objectives of the EUROPE 2020 strategy and highlights the need for better integration of environmental concerns in the CFP.
Thus, the Commission is expected to propose granting fishermen aid to encourage them to eliminate the practice of discarding unwanted fish into the sea. Funds will be granted in particular to help professionals in the fisheries sector to make better use of unwanted fish caught, or to purchase more selective fishing gear (allowing the ocean bottom to be fished in a selective manner in order to avoid discards). The FEAMP is also expected to support investment linked to combating climate change (reduction of carbon footprint, energy efficiency, environmental protection, quality of products unloaded, etc).
The Commission provides for an end to public aid for the decommissioning of fishing vessels and for temporary halts in activity (in 20 years, the EU has spent €1.7 billion on scrapping, but the EU fleet still suffers from overcapacity, according to the Commission). This will make it possible for funding to be available for other economic and social measures in favour of local communities. Thus, the Commission is expected to propose enhanced aid in favour of non-industrial fishing, aid for the diversification of activity (tourism, catering, processing), support for training fishermen's wives and premiums for investment relating to safety and working conditions on board fishing vessels.
The role of producer organisations must be strengthened. The Commission proposes to help these organisations develop production and marketing plans, in order to better meet market demand and consumers' wishes. Also, aid for product storage is foreseen, albeit applied on a sliding scale to be phased out in 2019.
The new fund will allow aquaculture to be developed and there will be a provision for insurance support to cover abnormal production losses (in the event of health problems, for example).
On the subject of management method, the Commission reserves itself the right to suspend aid in the event of violation by operators or by EU member states of CFP rules and objectives.
Finally, the new fund provides sufficient funding for data collection, cooperation between fishermen and the scientific community, monitoring and control, and integrates the necessary funding for implementation of integrated maritime policy.
The breakdown of funds between EU member states will depend on the importance of the fishing sector in each member state. Each country should establish an operational programme for the period 2014-2020, stating how it plans to spend the money allocated. Once the Commission has approved the programme, the countries may decide which projects are to be funded. (LC/transl.jl)