The €5 billion Brexit Adjustment Reserve (of which 80% in 2021) was criticised, on Monday 25 January, by some MEPs, mainly Spanish, of the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries.
At issue: how the €600m planned for 2021 to help fishermen adapt to the UK’s exit from the EU is to be allocated between countries.
The representative of the European Commission pointed out that those countries “highly dependent” on British waters for fishing activities will receive higher amounts than others.
Hence the following project unveiled for 2021: €147.5 million for Denmark, €130.9 million for the Netherlands, €108.2 million for France and €106.7 million for Ireland.
Spain, although affected by the effects of Brexit, would receive only €2.1 million and Portugal... three euros.
The Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries, Pierre Karleskind (Renew Europe, France), admitted that the dependency index (of British waters) retained left him “a little perplexed”. According to the Commission, the regulation on this reserve should enter into force by the end of June.
“I am a little disappointed”, said Francisco José Millán Mon (EPP, Spain) about the Commission’s “late” proposal. The text is “flawed” and it is “unacceptable” that this reserve does not cover the tourism sector, he stressed. The proposed distribution key can be improved, he said. The Spanish fisheries sector will lose €54 million. However, the reserve only allocates €2.1 million to Spain, Francisco José Millán Mon also protested, as did other Spaniards on the committee. This criterion of dependence is unacceptable, he said.
Søren Gade (Renew Europe, Denmark) insisted on the need to allocate funds to the sector “as soon as possible”. Grace O’Sullivan (Greens/EFA, Ireland) argued for a fair distribution of funds, respecting the “sustainability criteria”. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)