European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) 2014-2020

The Council held two public debates in the framework of the common fisheries policy (CFP) reform.

• The first discussion focused on achieving environmental sustainability through maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and the integration of environmental law requirements into the proposal covering the basic provisions of the CFP.
• The second debate explored further the proposal for a regulation on the European maritime and fisheries fund (EMFF), replacing the existing European fisheries fund.

Delegations broadly agreed on the EMFF proposal, pointing out that the EU should finance the ambitious CFP reform proposed.

• Several Member States questioned whether the part of the fund dedicated to controls and data collection was sufficient under the current proposal. With this in mind, some countries mentioned a possible transfer from the allocations for direct management to the allocation for shared management.
• Views differed on whether to maintain funding for modernising the fishing fleet and scrapping fishing boats through the EMFF, as was currently the case. Under the current proposal, the Commission does not plan to continue this funding.
• Member States were also divided on the storage aid which is part of the Commission proposal for the EMFF: some delegations considered this measure necessary as a safety net for the fish market while others were against providing public money for such market interventions and worried about their distorting effect on competitiveness.

Many delegations considered that the criteria for allocating funding between Member States were not precise enough and were still waiting for the figures for allocation following the decision on the MFF. Several Member States welcomed the criteria relating to small-scale fisheries and the criteria for aquaculture.

Timetable: 

• In July 2011, the Council held an initial public exchange of views on Commission proposals for the reform of the CFP.
• In addition, as regards this reform, the Council held policy debates in March 2012 on the three main proposals for regulations in the CFP reform "package": basic provisions of the CFP, common organisation (CMO) of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products and the European maritime and fisheries fund (EMFF). The debate on the proposal for a regulation on the CFP focussed on the issue of a discard ban.
• At the last Council meeting in April 2012, the policy debates covered regionalisation and transferable fishing concessions (TFCs), two specific issues raised in the basic provisions of the CFP.

A final debate on the "general approach" to reform of the CFP will be organised by the Presidency in June 2012.