On Monday 18 March in Brussels, Slovenia presented, on behalf of a group of eight EU countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Slovenia, Poland and Portugal), a note on support for the forthcoming European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) for the post-2020 financing period.
At the ‘Agriculture’ and ‘Fisheries’ Council, these countries expressed, for the period 2021-2027, a desire for EMFF to offer artisanal fisheries better access to funding, increased aid for young fishermen and support for modernising and renewing the small coastal fleet (but on condition that fishing capacity is not increased).
Italy also wanted small-scale fishing not to be forgotten in the future EMFF and advocated local management plans.
Joint Franco-Spanish declaration in sight. Small-scale coastal fishing should not be forgotten in the next EMFF, said Spanish Minister Luis Planas. "We agree with most" of the requests from this group of countries, he said.
Spain indicated that it was working with France to draft a joint statement on the 2021-2027 EMFF, especially on the treatment of small-scale coastal fishing. This statement will be presented shortly.
Liberal countries rise to the occasion. On the other side of the issue, ministers from Sweden, Germany and Denmark asserted that the EMFF should not grant aid for the purchase of new fishing vessels, as this increases fishing capacity and may encourage unsustainable fishing.
The Romanian Presidency of the EU Council promised to do its best to make progress in the negotiations on the post-2020 EMFF (see EUROPE 12209/6). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)