On Tuesday 10 May, the European Commission approved a €45 million Irish scheme to support the fish processing sector, which is affected by the effects of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.
The scheme will run until 31 December 2023. The beneficiaries are small and medium-sized enterprises active in the processing and preserving of fish, crustaceans and molluscs.
The aim is to help these companies to improve their manufacturing processes by encouraging them to optimise the use of raw materials and add more value to products, thus helping to reduce commodity exports. The measure will be funded from the ‘Brexit Adjustment Reserve’, which was set up to mitigate the economic and social impact of Brexit, subject to the approval of the specific provisions governing funding from this instrument.
In addition, the Commission validated the reintroduction of Irish aid to support the fisheries sector affected by the effects of Brexit. The original scheme, approved on 3 September 2021 and amended in October 2021, had a budget of €12.5 million and expired on 31 December 2021. Ireland has notified its intention to reintroduce the system until the end of October 2022, with an additional budget of €25 million. The aid will go to Irish-registered vessels that undertake to temporarily cease fishing activities. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)