Brussels, 17/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - The fisheries ministers of eight EU countries (France, Poland, Spain, Portugal, Malta, Ireland, Slovenia and Lithuania) called on Monday 16 July, in negotiations on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), for aid for modernising the fleet to be maintained, “without any increase in capacity”. The European Commission is proposing that most of the aid to the fleet, which it considers inefficient and costly, be ended.
On the initiative of France and Poland, these eight member states adopted a common position on public aid for the fleet in the talks on the common fisheries policy (CFP) new financial instrument, the EMFF. The Cypriot Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers hopes the Council will be in a position to adopt a political agreement on the EMFF in October.
The joint position aims to give the European fishing fleet - the average age of vessels is around 25 - the means to modernise and innovate in order to be able to meet new environmental and energy demands, France says in a press release. The eight countries want the EMFF to help reduce the environmental impact of fishing activities, through improved energy efficiency for fishing vessels, “including the replacement and modernisation of propulsion systems as well as through more selective gear”, according to a letter to the Cypriot fisheries minister and fisheries commissioner, seen by EUROPE. The EMFF, the eight say, should also contribute to improving the processing and conservation conditions of fishing products on board fishing vessels, particularly as it is planned to phase out discards. It should help improve living and safety conditions on board fishing boats.
“In order to reach the new objectives that are put forward in the reform of the common fisheries policy, in particular maximum sustainable yield, it will also be necessary to adjust certain European fleets”, the eight countries write. They call, therefore, for those member states which wish to do so, to be allowed to grant public aid for the adjustment of fleet capacity through the new fund, for the permanent or temporary cessation of fishing activities, in strict compliance with the recommendations of the European Court of Auditors. Such support should, of course, target fisheries where excess fishing capacity exists. (LC/transl.rt)