Brussels, 20/01/2009 (Agence Europe) - On 16 January, the European Commission adopted the annual report on the implementation of the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) in 2007. On 1 January 2007, the EFF, which covers the period from 2007 to 2013, replaced the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG). The EFF provides for aid according to the following priority axes: - axis 1: measures to adapt the Community fleet; - axis 2: aquaculture, inland fishing, processing and marketing; - axis 3: collective action; - axis 4: sustainable development of coastal fishing areas; - axis 5: technical assistance.
In 2007, 23 member states adopted their National Strategic Plans (NSPs) and submitted them to the Commission, says the Commission report. Following thorough negotiations with member states, the Commission adopted 19 of the 26 operational programmes (OPs) in the third quarter of 2007, most in December 2007. It was unable to adopt the remaining seven OPs since they were either submitted too late or not submitted at all. The remaining OPs were adopted in 2008.
In all, the 19 member states whose OPs were adopted in 2007 allocated the aid received among the priority axes as follows: the highest percentage was allocated to axis 2 (32%), followed by axis 3 (28.2%), axis 1 (26.9%), axis 4 (9.5%) and axis 5 (3.4%). The countries which allocated the highest shares of their EFF allocation to axis 1 (fleet measures) were Italy (38%), Greece (37.2%), Spain (35.6%), the Netherlands (34.8%) and France (27.6%). Austria and Slovakia were the landlocked countries with by far the highest percentages allocated to axis 2 (89.2% and 76.5%), followed by Romania (45.5%), Bulgaria (45%) and the Czech Republic (44%). The highest allocations to measures of common interest under axis 3 were in Cyprus (65.5%), the Czech Republic (51%), Germany (44.1%) and France (39.4%). In axis 4, the sustainable development of fisheries areas, Romania (32.5%), Latvia (23.1%), Estonia (22.8%) and Greece (16%) lead the way.
Financial implementation. Because of the late adoption of the OPs, none of the member states authorised any expenditure linked to projects in 2007. No expenditure was made and, therefore, nothing can be reported on the financial implementation of the operational programmes.
Budget implementation. In 2007, 9.93% of the appropriations for 2007-2013 were committed and 5.31% paid. This was below initial planning expectations, and was due to the delays in the adoption of the seven outstanding OPs. In 2008, implementation was speeded up.
Spain is the country which receives most from the EFF, with a total allocation (2007-2013) of €1.13 billion. (L.C./transl.rt)