Cyprus has amended its ‘operational programme’ for the implementation of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) to reallocate € 1.6 million of public funds to compensate fishing companies for financial losses resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, the European Commission announced on Wednesday 9 September (see EUROPE 12538/8, 12551/28).
Cyprus has therefore decided to reallocate this EMFF money to help fishermen and aquaculture farmers to live better in these difficult times and to prevent bankruptcies, downsizing and job losses.
The fisheries sector will receive €445,500 to compensate for economic losses due to the cessation of fishing activity. Of 275 applications submitted, 251 were approved, mostly for small-scale coastal fishing vessels and multipurpose vessels.
Aquaculture farmers will receive approximately €1.2 million. Fifteen proposals were submitted (of which twelve were approved and three are still under review). Aquaculture enterprises received compensation for some of the fixed costs related to production and sales in the period from March to December 2020.
The Council of the EU adopted, at the end of April, the regulation providing for support measures for fishermen and aquaculture farmers in difficulty as a result of the pandemic (see EUROPE 12472/6). The new rules amend provisions of the EMMF Regulation and the Common Market Organisation (CMO) Regulation. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)