Brussels, 21/12/2015 (Agence Europe) - A report by the European Commission on the implementation of the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) showed that around €394 million (more than 9%) had not been committed within the deadline (31 December 2015). The European Commission pointed to “an urgent need to accelerate payments, in order to ensure full use of all funds available within the deadline (31 December 2015)”. These funds are subsequently at risk of being lost.
The report also shows that from 2007 to 31 May 2015, EFF commitments by the member states amounted to €3.91 billion. This represents an increase of 14.5 % of EFF commitments over 31 May 2014 (€495 million in one year), when the level of commitments was still relatively low. By 31st May 2015, 90.83% of the EFF had been committed.
The 2014 Annual Implementation Report confirms the following trends highlighted in previous reports: The gradual decrease over the last years in EFF support to measures under Axis 1 (permanent and temporary cessation in particular) is more prominent in 2014-2015. This decrease can be explained by the following factors: scrapping schemes implemented in the past partly addressed overcapacity in some fleet segments; the improved profitability of some fleets makes the sector more confident in its future. By 31 May 2015, the EFF had contributed to 4,267 permanent cessation operations (+4 % over 31 May 2014), at a total public cost of €935.81 million, including €546.34 million from the EFF. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)