Brussels, 29/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - On the evening of Tuesday 28 January, the Parliament, Council and Commission reached a political agreement on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF).
An envelope of €6.4 billion has been earmarked for the period 2014-2020, and the EU institutions have finally managed to agree on the division of this envelope. The Commission made a sterling effort, giving up nearly €200 million from its direct management budget, to be used for such things as implementing EU maritime policy. The details for aid payments to renew fishing vessel engines have been laid down.
The rapporteur for the European Parlliament (EP) on the EMFF, Alain Cadec (EPP, France), pointed out that, without an agreement on the EMFF, “there would not have been any funding for the reform of the CFP, which would have been extremely damaging to the fisheries sector”. He added that the EMFF “attenuates certain excesses of the basic regulation without calling it into question” (in reference to the basic regulation reforming the CFP). Among other things, he referred to the payments to help fishermen implement the obligation to land all catches (end to discards at sea). In addition, in order to respect the MSY (maximum sustainable yield), the EMFF will “very broadly” pay for data collection and controls (far more than the Council asked for in its initial position, the rapporteur noted). This EMFF confirms “an end to transferable fishing concessions” (idea of a quotas market), Cadec noted with satisfaction. He described it as a “victory for common sense, for the Parliament, for co-decision and therefore for political Europe”.
Negotiations were suspended on 19 December of last year, when the Commission rejected an EP-Council pre-agreement providing for a sharp cut to the envelope available to it for direct management (see EUROPE 10989).
Division. The compromise provides for the EMFF to be divided up as follows: €4.34 billion for the development of fishing and fish farming, €580 million for controls (the Council was calling for €480 million), €520 million for data collection (the Council proposed €344 million), €192.5 million for the outermost regions, €76.5 million for the maritime policy of the EU under shared management, €45.5 million for storage aid and €647 million for direct management (the Council proposed €870 million, meaning that this represents a considerable drop, but less than the EP-Council pre-agreement of 19 December 2013, which provided for €547 million).
In addition, an agreement was reached to allow funds to be transferred between credits for control and those earmarked for data collection (and vice versa).
Aid for engine replacement. The EMFF makes it possible to support investments in the event of the removal, replacement or modernisation of engines (in order to reduce emissions of pollutants or greenhouse gases and increase energy efficiency). The conditions for engine replacement aid (Article 39 of the regulation on the EMFF) to be granted are as follows: - small-scale coastal fishing vessels of less than 12 metres in length (if engine power is equal to or less than that of the old engine); - vessels of between 12 and 18 metres (if the power of the new engine is at least 20% less than that of the old one); - vessels are between 18 and 24 metres (if engine output is at least 30% less than that of the old one).
Environmental NGOs, including WWF and Greenpeace, expressed their deep disappointment with the decision on subsidies for engine modernisation for fishing vessels, including trawlers. WWF said that this type of aid could hamper efforts to reduce fishing capacity and end overfishing. In the view of Greenpeace, “while the decision to increase public investments in data collection, control and enforcement could help make sustainable fisheries a reality, the direct subsidies to the fishing sector, including funding for new engines, threaten the objectives of the new Common Fisheries Policy”.
Cadec said that he felt a “fair balance” had been reached on engine replacement aid. It would, he argued, make it possible to have vessels which use less energy, pollute less and are safer. “We are not asking fishermen to fish more, but to fish better”.
Temporary cessation of activities (article 32). The EMFF may make a contribution to funding measures for the temporary cessation of fishing activities (in the framework of a multi-annual plan and during biological recovery periods). This aid may be granted for up to six months. A final measure was decided upon at Tuesday's trialogue, by request of the Council. Temporary cessation aid will also be authorised for up to six months in the event of the non-renewal of a fishing agreement with a third country.
Small-scale fishing. An action plan in favour of small-scale coastal fishing will be set in place in the countries of the EU in which the proportion of this fleet is significant. The aim is to create a strategy for the development, competitiveness and sustainability of small-scale fishing, which plays a key role in the viability of coastal areas.
Aid to young fishermen. The EMFF may also provide individual support to young fisherman (beneficiaries under the age of 40 and the level of support will not exceed €75,000).
Delegated acts. On implementation and delegated acts, the Council agreed to the proposals of the EP and the Commission.
Additionally, as regards eligibility (Article 13) for the EMFF, the Council agreed to an EP demand on excluding from the scope of application all operations which have the effect of increasing the capacity of vessels to find fish. Lastly, conditions have been set in place to allow compensation to be paid in the event of damage caused by predators.
Commission satisfied. “I am very happy about this outcome, because we can now go full steam ahead and implement the radical changes we have agreed last year to finally put European Fisheries on a sustainable footing once and for all. I now look forward to the finalisation of the adoption process by the European Parliament and the Council so that we can start funding projects on the ground as soon as possible”, said European Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki.
Next steps. After the plenary vote in October 2013 to open negotiations with the Council, the agreement will now be put to the vote of the committee on fisheries of the EP, before being approved by the Parliament at the April plenary session. The Council has still to adopt the text of the regulation formally. Negotiations are still underway to determine how the total EMFF envelope will be divided up among the member states. (LC/transl.fl)