At the request of nearly 20 EU Fisheries Ministers, the European Commission promised, on Monday 21 March in Brussels, that it would soon adopt measures to help the fisheries and aquaculture sector, which is struggling due to the effects of the war in Ukraine on energy prices.
The European Commission has promised to mobilise the rules of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) 2021-2027 to pay compensation to those working in the sector.
Luis Planas, the Spanish Minister, said that high diesel prices are reaching 50% of operating costs and, as a result, “many fishing vessels are paralysed”.
A paper was presented by Spain, supported by Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Romania, and Slovenia.
Latvia specifically requested a delegated act for a storage mechanism for fishery products. Aquaculture and fisheries have been hit hard, the Italian Minister said. He referred to the increase in so-called ‘de minimis’ State aid.
Denmark and Ireland referred to the cumulative negative effects of Brexit and the war in Ukraine. Denmark asked for flexibility to transfer quotas from one year to the next. Finland too has called for EU measures to strengthen the profitability of fishers and mitigate shocks. The country mentioned the use of State aid.
Germany asked not to forget the objectives of EMFAF, namely the promotion of sustainable fisheries. This country fears that using this fund communally in the face of the crisis could lead to EMFAF funds being used up too quickly. Germany favours support through State aid.
Virginijus Sinkevičius, European Commissioner for Fisheries, mentioned in particular the problems in the Black Sea, due to the proximity of war, and the rise in energy prices. “Many ships no longer go to sea”, admitted the Commissioner. Aquaculture companies are also suffering, as is the processing industry. The supply chain is therefore disrupted.
Crisis mechanisms. Virginijus Sinkevičius mentioned different options:
- the temporary crisis framework (State aid) being adopted by the Commission, with retroactive application for the agriculture and fisheries sectors;
- the use of EMFAF funding, via the crisis mechanism (Article 26), including the possibility for the Commission to put in place crisis measures with immediate effect (both conditions are met for such aid, identical to those during Covid-19).
“I will propose to the College of Commissioners to activate such crisis mechanisms in the coming days so that Member States can act”, the Commissioner said. This mechanism will allow Member States to compensate operators in the fisheries, aquaculture and processing industry for income losses and additional costs resulting from market disruption, Mr Sinkevičius said.
In addition, compensation may be paid to producer organisations that make use of the storage mechanism for fisheries products, as provided for in the Common Market Organisation (CMO) Regulation.
The crisis mechanism will have retroactive effect from 24 February 2022 (start of the war) and can be used until the end of 2022.
The Commissioner added that this emergency package should not distract the sector from medium and long-term “structural adjustments”. The need to accelerate the energy transition applies fully to the fisheries sector, concluded Virginijus Sinkevičius.
In this context, several NGOs, including Our Fish, called on Monday for the adoption of a “rigorous decarbonisation plan” for the fisheries sector and for the EU to respect its commitments under the ‘European Green Deal’. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)