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Summaries of EU Legislation

European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (2021–2027)

 

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EU) 2021/1139 establishing the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

  • It establishes the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), a European Union (EU) fund which runs over the 2021–2027 period in the context of the 2021–2027 multiannual financial framework.
  • It sets out the fund’s priorities, its budget and the specific rules for providing EU funding, complementary to the general rules applying to the EMFAF under Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 (see summary).

KEY POINTS

Priorities

The EMFAF supports the EU’s common fisheries policy, the EU maritime policy and the EU agenda for international ocean governance. This helps to fulfil the objectives of the European Green Deal and contributes to the protection of marine biodiversity, to the EU’s climate change mitigation objectives and to food supply.

The EMFAF supports innovative projects that contribute to the sustainable use and management of aquatic and maritime resources. In particular, it facilitates:

  • sustainable and low-carbon fishing activities;
  • the protection of marine biodiversity and ecosystems;
  • the supply of quality and healthy seafood to European consumers through an efficient market for fisheries products;
  • the socioeconomic attractiveness and generational renewal of the fisheries sector, in particular as regards small-scale coastal fisheries;
  • the structural management of fisheries and fishing fleets (eliminating fleet overcapacity and supporting measures for the conservation of marine biological resources);
  • the collection of scientific data to underpin fisheries management;
  • the control of fishing activities and the promotion of a culture of compliance in the fishing sector, to ensure a level playing field;
  • the development of sustainable and competitive aquaculture, contributing to food security;
  • the improvement of skills and working conditions in fisheries and aquaculture;
  • the economic and social vitality of coastal communities;
  • innovation in the sustainable blue economy;
  • maritime security, contributing to a safe maritime space;
  • international cooperation, contributing to healthy, safe and sustainably managed oceans.

In pursuing these objectives, the EMFAF has a specific focus on the sustainability and profitability of small-scale coastal fishing and on the sustainable development of maritime activities in the outermost regions.

Budget

For 2021–2027, the EMFAF budget is €6,108,000,000 (at 2021 prices), divided as follows:

  • shared management — €5,311,000,000 provided through national programmes co-financed by the EU budget and the EU Member States;
  • direct and indirect management — €797,000,000 provided by the European Commission.

Annex V lists the global resources from the EMFAF per Member State for each of the years from 2021 to 2027. For operations in the outermost regions, the Member States concerned must allocate from these global amounts at least:

  • €102,000,000 for the Azores and Madeira (Portugal);
  • €82,000,000 for the Canary Islands (Spain);
  • €131,000,000 for French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, Réunion and Saint Martin (France).

Programming

  • Under shared management, each Member State prepares a single national programme, which the Commission approves after an in-depth assessment.
  • A national EMFAF programme is a strategic roadmap for public investment between 2021 and 2027. It describes tailor-made actions to respond to the specific challenges identified by the Member States as regards the common EU priorities for marine biodiversity, maritime policy and sustainable fisheries and aquaculture.

Evaluation and monitoring

The EMFAF’s implementation is continuously monitored in a transparent manner, in accordance with the common rules set in Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 and the specific rules in the EMFAF regulation.

  • Twice each year, Member States report:
    • on the values of the indicators selected in their EMFAF programmes — this information is aggregated at EU level and made publicly available;
    • on the detailed characteristics of each project and beneficiary — the Commission uses this information for regular ad hoc reporting.
  • Five times each year, Member States report on the number of selected projects and on their financial cost. This information is aggregated at EU level and made publicly available. It is also broken down according to thematic areas.
  • The Commission discusses the EMFAF’s implementation with each Member State in an annual review meeting. This meeting aims to identify potential issues in the national EMFAF programme and corrective actions, if necessary.
  • By 30 June 2029, each Member State will evaluate its EMFAF programme to assess its impact.
  • By the end of 2024 and also by the end of 2031, the Commission will evaluate the effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, coherence and EU added value of the EMFAF as a whole.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It has applied since 1 January 2021.

BACKGROUND

For more information, see:

MAIN DOCUMENT

Regulation (EU) 2021/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 July 2021 establishing the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/1004 (OJ L 247, 13.7.2021, pp. 1–49).

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/1972 of 11 August 2021 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/1004 by laying down the criteria for the calculation of the additional costs incurred by operators in the fishing, farming, processing and marketing of certain fishery and aquaculture products from the outermost regions (OJ L 402, 15.11.2021, pp. 1–3).

Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy (OJ L 231, 30.6.2021, pp. 159–706).

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions — on a new approach for a sustainable blue economy in the EU — Transforming the EU’s Blue Economy for a Sustainable Future (COM(2021) 240 final, 17.5.2021).

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions — EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 — Bringing nature back into our lives (COM(2020) 380 final, 20.5.2020).

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions — The European Green Deal (COM(2019) 640 final, 11.12.2019).

Regulation (EU) 2017/1004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2017 on the establishment of a Union framework for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector and support for scientific advice regarding the common fisheries policy and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 199/2008 (OJ L 157, 20.6.2017, pp. 1–21).

Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) 2017/1004 have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1184/2006 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 104/2000 (OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, pp. 1–21).

See consolidated version.

Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy, amending Regulations (EC) No 847/96, (EC) No 2371/2002, (EC) No 811/2004, (EC) No 768/2005, (EC) No 2115/2005, (EC) No 2166/2005, (EC) No 388/2006, (EC) No 509/2007, (EC) No 676/2007, (EC) No 1098/2007, (EC) No 1300/2008, (EC) No 1342/2008 and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 2847/93, (EC) No 1627/94 and (EC) No 1966/2006 (OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, pp. 1–50).

See consolidated version.

Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive) (OJ L 164, 25.6.2008, pp. 19–40).

See consolidated version.

last update 26.11.2021

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