France and Spain will present a joint statement on the post-2020 European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) to the Agriculture and Fisheries Council Brussels on Tuesday 14 May. The European Parliament had already adopted its position in April on this dossier, while the Romanian Presidency hopes to bring the EU Council to a general approach in June on the EMFF 2021-2027 (see EUROPE 12229/4).
Last March, eight countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Slovenia, Poland and Portugal) submitted a note requesting that the EMFF be amended to provide more support for small-scale fishery after 2020 (see EUROPE 12216/8).
France and Spain had generally supported the requests of these countries, but had indicated that they would work on a joint declaration.
These two countries, "heavyweights" in the fisheries sector, wish to maintain an open dynamic, noting that the text of their joint declaration on the EMFF 2021-2027 "is open to all Member States that would share these positions”.
In the context of the ongoing negotiations for the period 2021-2027, France and Spain claim that some changes can be made in the EMFF in order to achieve more effectively the objectives of sustainability of the oceans and the European fisheries sector.
The new fund should thus be both simpler to use and more effective in achieving its main objectives.
France and Spain request to avoid any undue delays in the entry into force of the new operative programmes.
With regards to the co-financing rates for the various measures, management should be simplified and the current average rate should be increased from 75 to 80% with special derogations for Local Fishing Action Groups (85%) and the outermost regions (100%). In addition, as regard to financing, it is important to ensure that aquaculture and activities related to the processing of fishery products can continue to be supported by subsidies, without restricting them to financial instruments alone.
Simplifications. For effective management, it is essential, in the eyes of France and Spain: - to soften the obligations of reporting, deleting the mandatory transmission of cumulative data every three months to the Commission as well as the annual performance report; - to allow the possibility of submitting more than four payment applications per accounting year; - to increase the possibility of transferring, during the programming period, an amount of more than 5% of a priority to another priority of the same Fund.
Regarding the intensity of public aid, France and Spain propose to set a minimum limit of 50% and a maximum of 100% so that it may be established by each Member State within these limits.
Small scale fishery. Given the importance of this fleet segment in some Member States, ”more flexible support mechanisms should be provided”, according to the joint Franco-Spanish declaration. Thus, the national strategies planned by the Commission should be a practicable one which should be aimed to allowing small-scale fishing to have an easier access to the EMFF.
Other aspects related to the type of fishing, duration, distance from the coast and length of the vessel, among others, should be taken into account in the definition of the small-scale fishery. France and Spain propose to define a common set of requirements by complementing them with others more flexible that allow for adapting the definition to the different realities of artisanal fisheries in the different Member States and regions.
In addition, France and Spain recommend measures to facilitate the renewal of generations of fishermen and of this artisanal fleet, “but always without increasing the fishing capacity of the involved fleet segment and complying with the EU international commitments”.
Safety on board. France and Spain support the financing of measures aimed at improving safety, working conditions and energy efficiency of vessels, “even if they lead to an increase in capacity [of the fishing vessels], as long as the total capacity of the Member State does not increase”. In addition, measures aimed at modernising ports, new landing places or new auctions should be considered.
Market and ORs Finally, France and Spain would like to: - maintain some mechanism to support market regulation in the event of a crisis, such as private storage with public support; - take into account the specific circumstances of the outermost regions, with “the removal of the limit of 50% of the financial allocation currently proposed for compensation for the additional costs of production”, which would give the Member State the flexibility to establish the limit in its specific action plan. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)