Faced with persistent energy price volatility and the sector’s structural dependence on fossil fuels, the European Commission promised on Monday 30 March, during a meeting of European fisheries ministers, to amend the text governing the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) in order to more effectively support the energy transition.
During an EU Council debate on energy efficiency, against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions and the repercussions of the war in Iran on energy markets, Commissioner for Fisheries Costas Kadis acknowledged that, despite initiatives launched in recent years, current financial tools are reaching their limits.
At the end of the debate, Mr Kadis indicated that he would propose to the college of Commissioners that the mechanism provided for in Article 26 of the EMFAF regulation be activated (interventions which contribute to achieving the CFP objectives - https://aeur.eu/f/le6 ). He also intends to analyse requests from the sector and ministers.
“Allow me to recall that Member States have opportunities to advance energy-efficient technologies in the fisheries sector through [the] EMFAF”, he stressed in his introductory remarks.
Mr Kadis encouraged Member States to continue implementing their national EMFAF programmes and to reduce the administrative burden at national level in order to facilitate and accelerate the absorption of funds.
At the same time, the Commission stated that it had heard repeated calls from all stakeholders to improve the fund. “We are looking into options to align the fund with the sector’s aspirations. Particular attention is [being] given to how to facilitate [the] energy transition while taking into account the current implementation rate and the remaining funds available”, added Mr Kadis.
The ‘Roadmap for Energy Transition’ will be presented as part of the ‘Vision 2040’ for fisheries and aquaculture, forming a coherent package that the Commission plans to adopt in the third quarter of 2026. This ‘Vision’ will be underpinned by the findings of the ongoing comprehensive evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) Regulation.
Faced with the rapid and unpredictable surge in diesel and energy prices, Italy, supported by Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia and Portugal, has asked the European Commission to take urgent action to prevent European fisheries and aquaculture from coming to a standstill.
“In light of this situation, we are asking the European Commission to consider a swift amendment to the EMFAF regulation in order to create the necessary conditions to promote direct support measures for companies in the sector, with a view to offsetting the exceptional increase in operating costs and preserve employment levels”, said the Italian minister, Francesco Lollobrigida.
In a note, the five countries call on the Commission to rapidly amend the EMFAF regulation to allow for exceptional and targeted measures: direct support for the sector’s companies, modernisation of hulls and propulsion systems, attracting new generations, support for production continuity for fishing businesses, increased flexibility and simplified procedures.
“We must speed up the measures: it’s a matter of urgency”, said the French minister, Catherine Chabaud. She has proposed changing the regulatory framework to provide emergency aid to fishermen and introduce measures to speed up the fleet’s decarbonisation. France intends to notify the Commission of a support scheme for fishermen designed to provide them with direct assistance, and is hoping for its rapid approval.
France has also advocated amending the CFP regulation to “ease the constraints linked to tonnage limits and allow new technologies to be integrated”. Catherine Chabaud advocated introducing a “decarbonisation gauge”, to integrate new energy sources on board future fishing vessels.
Several countries have requested that the Commission revise State aid guidelines to facilitate the rapid decarbonisation of fishing fleets.
Luis Planas, the Spanish minister, backed the measures requested by Italy and specifically advocated creating a crisis reserve for the fishing industry, similar to the one currently in place for the agricultural sector.
Even Germany has called for an adaptation of the EMFAF to “remove regulatory obstacles to the energy transition, reduce fleet overcapacity and support concrete actions aimed at achieving the sector’s carbon neutrality”.
Link to the note: https://aeur.eu/f/ldl (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)