Brussels, 16/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - The EU Court of Auditors says in a report published on Tuesday 16 September that “overall”, the European fisheries fund (aid for 2007-2013) “did not offer effective support for the sustainable development of aquaculture”.
Each year the EU produces about 1.3 million tonnes of fish from aquaculture, and the sector has a turnover of €4 billion. One of the aims of the common fisheries policy (CFP) in the period up to 2013, and its funding instrument, the European fisheries fund (EFF), was to encourage the sustainable development of aquaculture. Consequently, by May 2013, the EFF provided over €400 million to fund measures for productive investments in aquaculture, as well as environmental and health measures.
In its report the Court notes that, at EU level, measures to support the sustainable development of aquaculture have not been well designed and monitored. With regard to guidance on environmental sustainability, the Court found that sufficient guidance was given for Natura 2000 but not for issues related to the water framework directive, the marine strategy framework directive and the environment impact assessment directive. In addition, “the EFF monitoring committees did not play a significant role in monitoring aquaculture, management information was deficient, and the results of relevant publicly funded research projects were not fully exploited”. At the level of the member states, measures to support the sustainable development of aquaculture “have not been well designed and implemented”, according to the auditors. The Court found that the main objectives for growth of the aquaculture sector “have not been met to date”, and the sector “has stagnated for many years”. It acknowledges that the financial and economic crisis undoubtedly contributed significantly to this stagnation at least in the main producing member states. The Court also found that the projects audited in the member states visited were often poorly selected. With some exceptions, audited projects often did not provide the expected results, or value for money, and contributed little to growth and employment. The audit focused on projects funded between 2007 and 2011. It was carried out at the relevant Commission departments and in six member states (Spain, France, Italy, Poland, Portugal and Romania) accounting for over 50 % of aquaculture production and related EFF budgetary support in the EU.
The European Commission has already taken corrective measures to ensure that the errors do not happen with the new European maritime and fisheries fund (EMFF). The general context has also changed with a new approach to aquaculture, it adds. (LC)