Brussels, 23/03/2007 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament's fisheries committee called, on Thursday 22 March, for a €2 million increase (from €15 to €17 million) in the annual aid, granted during the 2007-2013 period, to help cover the increase in transport and energy costs incurred in the marketing of fishery products for the outermost regions of the EU (see EUROPE 9319 on the European Commission's proposal). The Duarte Freitas Report (EPP-ED, Portugal) on the issue is tabled for debate at the European Parliament's plenary in April.
Adopting amendments to the initial draft, the members of the EP fisheries committee increased the maximum overall annual budget to the outermost EU regions for selling their fisheries products. The fisheries committee notes that the total aid per year should not exceed €7.85 for the Portuguese islands of Azores and Madeira (compared with €4.28 million in the European Commission's proposal); €6.62 million for the Spanish Canary Islands (compared with €5.84 million); and €5.51 million for French Guiana and The Reunion (compared with €4.86 million). This increase of €2 million is necessary to help these regions cover the increase in transport and energy costs since 2003, according to the parliamentarians.
Under other amendments to the proposal, aid will not only cover transport costs involved in marketing fishery products. The report adds aid to help cover additional costs linked to the use of raw materials used in processing of fishery products like olive and other oils, salt, etc. It should also 'continue to be permissible - when catches by local fleets are insufficient - for local processing industries to be supplied by Community vessels'. A 'modulation may be made among regions belonging to a member state within the limits of the overall financial framework' and 'a derogation should be granted to the outermost regions as regards state aid for the production, processing and marketing of fishery products.' (lc)