On Wednesday 13 June, Europêche, the association of national organisations of fishery enterprises in the European Union, urged co-legislators to adopt the new European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) by the next European elections in May 2019 (see EUROPE 12039).
The financial package (€6.4 billion) represents a 5% reduction compared with the current EMFF budget, Europêche confirms. The organisation above all calls for an increase in the budgetary allocation in favour of sustainable fishing and for facilitated access to funding for all fishermen.
Problem of implementation. The rate of implementation of the EMFF 2014-2020 continues to cause concern. More than four years after its adoption (15 May 2014), only 11% of the total funding has been spent by member states “for reasons beyond the control of the industry”.
Javier Garat, President of Europêche, considers that agreement on the text should be reached before the European elections “to facilitate a smooth transition to the next budgetary period that will start on 1 January 2021”. Member states will need time to draw up their national operational programmes.
Member states should draw up their programme indicating the most appropriate means for achieving the priorities set in the EMFF. Europêche regrets the fact that the Commission refers only to small-scale coastal fishing when proposing important measures (promotion of skills, innovation, investments and modernisation of the fleet). Such measures should concern the entire EU fishing fleet, say EU vessel owners. In addition, they consider that the definition of small-scale coastal fishing should be reviewed.
Europêche welcomes the financial support intended to improve the health, safety and working conditions on board fishing vessels. Nonetheless, such measures must not solely relate to small-scale coastal fishing. In addition, support for social dialogue and training has been removed from the fund.
Europêche is pleased to see that the new EMFF may support the temporary and permanent cessation of fishing activities. “Such a tool would allow for the adjustment of fleet segments with identified structural overcapacity”.
€990 million have been earmarked for “third country” agreements and for regional fisheries organisations. This is an increase of €87 million compared with the current period 2014-2020. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)