The European Commission announced on Thursday 19 March that it had decided to revise the Community rules on State aid to the fisheries and aquaculture sector, which “allow Member States to provide temporary relief to economic operators hit by the crisis” due to the effects of the coronavirus outbreak (see EUROPE 12450/16).
The new rules (under the Temporary Framework, see EUROPE 12450/7) include a large increase of the maximum amount of de minimis aid per undertaking, from currently 30 000 euros to 120 000 euros.
Virginijus Sinkevičius, Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries: “Our fishermen and women and our aquaculture farmers are among the first to suffer the economic consequences of COVID-19, as the demand for seafood has experienced a dramatic slump. Together, we will ensure that the EU maintains a strong seafood industry and thriving coastal communities, now and in the future”.
Demand for seafood is experiencing a dramatic downturn, as retailers, restaurants, canteens and other large-scale buyers are “reducing or temporarily closing down their activities”, the Commission recalls. In addition, the seafood industry depends on logistics (landing facilities, transport and storage) which may be affected by the evolution of the crisis.
The revised State aid rules will allow Member States to provide immediate support, in the form of grants or tax advantages, to operators facing a sudden shortage or unavailability of liquidity. “In many cases, this can mean the difference between permanently closing activities and long-term survival of healthy businesses and thousands of jobs”. Aid can be granted until 31 December 2020 to companies which are experiencing difficulties as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
The aid does not apply to activities explicitly excluded from de minimis aid in the fisheries and aquaculture sector. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)