FIFG: Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance

The Regulation on the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) sets out the policy priorities and the terms of assistance for the fisheries and aquaculture sector for the period 2000-06. The FIFG is designed to help achieve the aims of the common fisheries policy by providing structural assistance. It thus strengthens the competitiveness of the operating structures and the development of economically viable enterprises.

ACT

Council Regulation (EC) No 1263/1999 of 21 June 1999 on the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance

SUMMARY

The aim of the FIFG is to contribute to achieving the objectives of the common fisheries policy. It supports structural measures in fisheries, aquaculture and the processing and marketing of fishery and aquaculture products. In this way it promotes the restructuring of the sector by putting in place the right conditions for its development and modernisation.

Objectives

The aims of the FIFG's structural measures are to:

• contribute to achieving a balance between fisheries resources and their exploitation,
• strengthen the competitiveness of operating structures and the development of economically viable enterprises in the sector;
• improve market supply and the value added to fishery and aquaculture products;
• contribute to revitalising areas dependent on fisheries and aquaculture.

Scope

This Regulation grants FIFG support to the following in line with the FIFG's overall objectives:

• fleet renewal and modernisation of fishing vessels;
• adjustment of fishing effort;
• joint enterprises;
• small-scale coastal fisheries;
• socio-economic measures;
• protection of marine resources in coastal waters;
• aquaculture;
• fishing port facilities;
• processing and marketing of fishery and aquaculture products;
• seeking new outlets for such products;
• operations by members of the trade;
• innovative actions, in particular those of a transnational nature and involving the networking of operators and areas dependent on the sector.
• technical assistance.

Programming

This Regulation firmly links the FIFG both to the structural policy established by Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds and to the common fisheries policy provided for in Council Regulation (EEC) No 3760/92.

The structural measures financed by the FIFG fall under different multiannual programmes according to the regional context in which they apply:

• where regions are eligible for Structural Funds under Objective 1, the measures are included in the programming for that Objective;
• where regions are not eligible for Objective 1, the measures are covered by single programming documents in each Member State.

RELATED ACTS

Council Regulation (EC) No 2370/2002 of 20 December 2002 establishing an emergency Community measure for scrapping fishing vessels [Official Journal L 358 of 31.12.2002].

Commission Regulation (EC) No 2722/2000 of 13 December 2000 establishing the conditions under which the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) may make a contribution towards the eradication of pathological risks in aquaculture [Official Journal L 314 of 14.12.2000].

Council Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 of 17 December 1999 laying down the detailed rules and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector [Official Journal L 83 of 4.4.2000]. This Regulation lays down the detailed rules and arrangements for Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector. It specifies the procedure for adopting the multiannual guidance programmes for the fishing fleets (MAGPs) for the period starting on 1 January 2002.

Commission Decision 1999/500/EC of 1 July 1999 fixing an indicative allocation by Member State of the commitment appropriations under the financial instrument for fisheries guidance (FIFG) outside the Objective 1 regions of the Structural Funds for the period 2000 to 2006 [Official Journal L 194 of 27.07.1999] This Decision lays down the indicative allocation by Member State of the commitment appropriations under the FIFG outside the Objective 1 regions for 11 Member States (excluding Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal). These appropriations total EUR 1 106 million in 2000-06 (1999 prices). The total allocations for the FIFG for the period 2000-06 total EUR 4 119 million (2005 prices).

Council Regulation (EEC) No 3760/92 of 20 December 1992 establishing a Community system for fisheries and aquaculture (Official Journal of the European Communities L389 of 31.12.1992) This Regulation establishes a Community system for fisheries and aquaculture. It contributes towards achieving a balance between conservation and the management of resources, on the one hand, and fishing effort and the stable and rational exploitation of those resources, on the other.

Last updated: 15.10.2005