Brussels, 02/07/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 3 July, the European Commission adopted a block exemption regulation for fisheries. Under this regulation, certain types of national aid to this sector will no longer have to be notified or cleared by the Commission before being granted by member states, on condition that they meet the conditions fixed by similar aid granted under the European Fisheries Fund (EFF). The regulation adopted includes all categories of aid covered by the EFF, with the exception of aid for investments in the fleet and aid for sustainable development of fisheries areas. As a result, member states that wish to grant state aid in the eligible areas may do so by submitting the relevant summary information to the Commission for publication on the internet or in the EU Official Journal.
The new regulation replaces Regulation (EC) No 1595/2004, and extends the block exemption to certain types of aid that have never opened Commission inquiry procedure, such as aid for temporary cessation of activity. Other areas, such as aid for vessel modernisation, will remain subject to in-depth ex ante assessment by the Commission in the light of the new guidelines on state aid in the fisheries and agriculture sectors. The regulation also exempts, under certain conditions, aid in the form of tax exemptions on fuel implemented pursuant to the Council directive on energy taxation. Block exemption will only apply to aid granted to small and medium-sized enterprises. The amount of aid exempted may not exceed €1 million, and the projects financed may not have eligible costs in excess of €2 million.
Actions in the following areas which meet the criteria of the new block exemption regulation, and comply with the detailed conditions for such measures as laid down in the EFF, are exempt from prior notification: - aid for permanent and temporary cessation of fishing activities; - aid for socio-economic compensation for the management of the fleet; - aid for productive investments in aquaculture; - aid for aqua-environmental measures; - aid for public health measures; - aid for animal health measures; - aid for inland fishing; - aid for processing and marketing; - aid for collective actions; - aid for measures intended to protect and develop aquatic fauna and flora; - aid for investment in fishing ports; - aid for development of new markets and promotional campaigns; - aid for pilot projects; - aid for modification for reassignment of fishing vessels, - and not forgetting tax exemptions in accordance with the energy taxation directive. (O.L./transl.jl)