On 21 November, the European Commission adopted a communication amending the Guidelines for the examination of State aid to the fishery and aquaculture sector for the benefit of the EU's outermost regions (ORs).
It is in this context that on 23 November, at the annual conference of the outermost regions in Gran Canaria, the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker announced that the nine EU ORs could now use State aid to support the renewal of the small-vessel fishing fleet (see EUROPE 12144).
The amendment authorises State aid for purchasing fishing vessels in the ORs. Objective: to facilitate fleet renewal in order to increase the safety of fishers and to guarantee supplies. Member States will be able to provide public support for buying new fishing vessels to fishers and companies located in one of the nine EU ORs.
State aid can be used to replace outdated and unsafe vessels with new ones. If the capacity limits of a region have not yet been reached, the funding can be used to buy new vessels better suited to current fishing opportunities.
The Guidelines stress the need to avoid any negative impact on the sustainability of fish stocks. State aid can only be granted if there is a balance between fish resources and the fishing capacity of the fleet segment acquiring a new vessel. The introduction of a new vessel must comply with the capacity ceilings.
Aid intensity. The maximum public aid intensity may not exceed: 60% of the total eligible costs for vessels of less than 12 metres (m) in length; 50% of the total eligible costs for vessels of more than 12m and less than 24m; 25% of the total costs for vessels of 24m or more.
The vessel acquired with the aid must remain registered in the OR for at least 15 years from the date on which the aid is granted and must, during that period, land all catches in an OR. In the event of non-compliance, the aid must be repaid in proportion to the period of non-compliance. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)