Crisis in the fisheries sector: support measures for fishers with fishing vessels over 24 metres in length

Subject: Crisis in the fisheries sector: support measures for fishers with fishing vessels over 24 metres in length

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 puts in place funding to support the fisheries sector.

Article 20 establishes a one-off payment for fishers affected by permanent cessation of fishing activities.

Under Article 18, financial support for the modernisation or replacement of engines is granted only to vessels up to 24 metres in length.

It is important to take into account the serious economic crisis and difficulties currently faced by vessel owners, against a backdrop where the EU’s entire Mediterranean fisheries sector is being penalised.

It is vital to ensure the sustainability and future competitiveness of the fisheries sector, in line with the objectives of sustainable and inclusive growth in the European Union. I would therefore ask the Commission the following questions:

1. Is it considering introducing derogations or specific scenarios to allow vessels over 24 metres in length to benefit from fishing authorisations under certain conditions, thereby recognising their specific needs in times of crisis?

2. Does it intend to identify possible financial support measures for vessels over 24 metres in length so that their owners, too, can benefit from support tailored to their changing needs?

Submitted:15.4.2024

Answer given by Mr Sinkevičius on behalf of the European Commission (28 May 2024)

1. The Commission does not, at this stage, consider introducing changes to Regulation (EU) 2021/113 9 (1). Instead, it encourages Member States to make full use of the possibilities provided by this structural support fund to drive lasting structural changes in the sector.

2. Some of the measures provided for under this regulation are available only to vessels below 24 metres. These are used -among others- to replace or modernise engines, help young fishers acquire, for the first time, a second-hand vessel and increase the volume of the vessel to improve safety, working conditions or energy efficiency.

However, since over 80% of the EU’s Mediterranean fishing fleet is composed of small-scale vessels (less than 12 meters), this part of the fleet is eligible for current funding made available under Articles 18 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1139. Furthermore, cessation support under Article 20 of EU’s Mediterranean fishing fleet is not limited to vessels below 24 meters.

In addition, if the conditions are met, Member States may decide to grant state aid under the Fisheries state aid Guidelines (2). Similarly, while certain type of aid is limited to small vessels, that is not the case for all categories of aid (for instance aid for permanent cessation).

Finally, to the extent that the difficulties of the vessels’ owner are directly linked to impact of the Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the Member State may also grant aid of limited amount under the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framewor k (3) until 31 December 2024.

1 ∙ ⸱ 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. 2 ∙ ⸱

Communication from the Commission — Guidelines for state aid in the fishery and aquaculture sector (2023/C 107/01). 3 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ:C_202301188