The presidency of the EU will present, predictably, a common position document at the meeting the Council of Ministers of the EU branch, in June
Spain, France and Italy advocate strengthening the future EMFF
EUROPEAN UNION
Thursday, May 16, 2019, 00:00 (GMT + 9)
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, presented yesterday in the Council of Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries of the European Union a joint declaration with France, supported by Italy, to strengthen the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) 2021-2027. The declaration is open to the accession of other Member States, to which it has been submitted so that they can make the contributions they consider appropriate.
The declaration has received full support from a large number of countries and partial support from other Member States.
This joint document calls for greater flexibility so that the Member States can approve action measures in relation to the application of the Fund in the new programming period, to take into account all the circumstances of each fleet.
Likewise, the document defends an improvement of the cofinancing rates, from 75 to 80 per cent in general, 85 per cent for the fisheries local action groups (FLAGs) and 100 per cent for the outermost regions.
In addition, it is considered that the measures that do not constitute an increase in fishing capacity should imply an improvement in the safety and working conditions of the crew members and the energy efficiency of fishing vessels, as well as those aimed at modernizing ports, landing places and new fish markets.
Likewise, there is a need for the aquaculture sector to be supported through additional measures to the financial instruments proposed by the European Commission in its proposal.
Also included is the strengthening of market mechanisms, such as private storage, in order to be able to take action in cases of market crisis.
Similarly, the definition of small-scale coastal fishing is proposed, so that vessels in conditions similar to those of small size can benefit from the Fund, that is, not only takeing into account the length but other circumstances, such as the duration of the fishing day or the proximity to the docking port.
How the EMFF funds are distributed (Click on the image to enlarge it)
"The fishing sector is and should be a sustainable sector, from the point of view of resources, but it also has to be modernized," Planas told the media.
The minister recalled that the proposal for a regulation on the EMFF is being examined in the Council's Fisheries Policy Group. The rotating Romanian presidency of the EU will present, predictably, a common position document at the meeting the Council of Ministers of the EU branch, in June.
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