On Tuesday 18 June in Luxembourg, the European fisheries ministers succeeded in reaching a 'Partial' General Approach on the modalities of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) 2021-2027. A compromise has been reached on the continuation of some public aid to the fleet, which NGOs have accused of contributing to overfishing.
The European Commission has also been critical of fleet aid that increases fishing capacity.
The compromise text presented by the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council was accepted by the major fishing countries, such as Spain, France and Italy, but also by others such as the Netherlands, Denmark and even the United Kingdom.
Sweden indicated that it would vote against the text, on the grounds that fleet aid contributes to overfishing, as did Poland (due to insufficient aid in the context of the depletion of the cod stock in the Eastern Baltic), Latvia and Lithuania. Portugal and Austria are expected to abstain from voting.
The EU Council's negotiating position is partial, as it excludes, at this stage, budget-related and horizontal issues, which are currently being negotiated in the context of the EU's next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), which will cover the period from 2021 to 2027.
This will enable the EU Council to negotiate a final political agreement on the EMFF with the European Parliament as soon as it is ready to do so.
The European Commissioner for Fisheries, Karmenu Vella, stressed that “any expenditure that could lead to an increase in fishing capacity could be interpreted as a harmful subsidy and this could undermine our credibility at international level”. He opposed any aid to the fleet resulting in an increase in fishing capacity.
The Spanish Minister, Luis Planas, on the contrary, said that when we talk about safety on board vessels or energy efficiency, “we are talking about sustainability”. He assured that the planned aid will not increase fishing capacity. “I would like to reassure the Commission” on this point, he said.
Same defence for the French side. Didier Guillaume told the press that the EMFF “is a tool against overfishing that helps to develop and modernise the fishing fleet”. Some vessels need to be renovated, not to fish more, but to fish better, he added.
Operations that increase fishing capacity. The compromise text provides that operations increasing a vessel's fishing capacity are not eligible operations for EMFF support. However, at the request of several 'fishing' countries, the compromise text includes a derogation to this provision. This derogation is limited to operations related to investments in on-board safety, labour conditions and energy efficiency, and is accompanied by very restrictive conditions: - the segment of the corresponding fleet must be in balance; - any increase in capacity arising from these operations must be compensated for by a prior withdrawal of capacity of at least the same amount ; - the national ceiling for fishing capacity assigned to each Member State must be respected.
A similar approach is adopted in the first reading position of the European Parliament.
Construction and acquisition of fishing vessels. Like the Commission proposal, the Presidency compromise provides that the construction and acquisition of fishing vessels or the importation of such vessels, as well as the replacement or modernisation of engines are not, with a few exceptions, eligible operations for EMFF support. In its proposal, the Commission limited the derogations to only small-scale fishing vessels. However, a large majority of delegations considered that the derogations should be extended beyond the small-scale coastal fleets. The compromise text extends the derogations to vessels up to 24 metres. A derogation is provided for the first acquisition of a fishing vessel.
Regarding the replacement or modernisation of engines, the agreed text maintains that the new or modernised engine should not have more power than the current one, but includes an additional condition for vessels between 12 and 24 metres: the new or modernised engine should emit at least 15% less CO2 than the current one.
Aid intensity rate. The Commission proposed to deviate from the general rule of 50% for the maximum aid intensity rate and to establish a maximum aid intensity rate of 30% for investments for both the first acquisition of a fishing vessel and engine replacement or modernisation. However, a significant number of delegations requested that the aid intensity rate be maintained at 50%. As some delegations requested that the rate be lower, the Presidency, in a spirit of compromise, proposed an aid intensity rate of 40%.
Control and data collection. As in the Commission proposal, the Presidency's compromise provides for at least 15% of the Union financial support allocated per Member State to be granted for control and data collection. Some delegations wanted more (up to 25%) and others less than 15%. The compromise text retains the proposed rate of 15%. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)