Criteria for the financing of fishing shelters

Subject: Criteria for the financing of fishing shelters

In December 2018, the municipality of Kalamaria submitted – in advance of the deadline – a dossier for the ‘New Fountain Fisheries Shelter’ project as part of the Fisheries and Maritime Operational Programme. Although the dossier was found to be complete by the 2014-2021 Fisheries and Marine Operational Programme (EPALTH) Special Management Service, the request for funding was rejected on the grounds that, in the view of the EPALTH Special Management Service, its size classified it as a fishing port.

The leeward docks are 310 metres long and 14 metres wide, with a 305‑metre-long breakwater. The Ministry of Finance granted the project a marine space surface area of 24.355 m², of which 7.300 m² is earmarked for the construction of an embankment to provide land surface for the service area. One hundred and sixty fishing vessels are to be moored there.

Given that all the relevant Greek authorities 1 have authorised the construction of the project as a ‘fisheries shelter’, can the Commission say:

1. Is the size mentioned above a criterion for a proposed harbourside construction to be classed as a fishing port?

2. Have any other fisheries shelter projects in the EU with a capacity of 160 fishing vessels been given funding?

3. Given that the call for proposals made no mention of the need for a specific capacity, was the decision to reject this project justified?

1 Ministry of Finance / Regional Public Property Directorate for Central Macedonia / Technical Projects

Directorate.

Answer given by Mr Sinkevičius on behalf of the European Commission (26 February 2020)

The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) provides funding that could be channelled to support measures on investments in fishing ports, auction halls, landing sites and shelters. In order to improve the safety of fishers, the EMFF may support investments in the construction or modernization of shelters. However, the construction of new ports, new landing sites or new auction halls is excluded from the support of the fund.

As there is no definition of a fishing shelter in EC law, it is up to the national managing authorities to define the notion of a fishing shelter and to distinguish between fishing ports and fishing shelters in line with national law.

As of 31 December 2018, the EMFF did not finance any operation related to fishing shelters of the magnitude mentioned in the question of the Honourable Member.

It is also the responsibility of the national managing authority to launch calls for proposals, appraise submitted proposals for operations and award contracts in line with Article 125(3) of the Common Provisions Regulation (2) and national law.

The Commission advises Member States to follow, when establishing a call for proposals, past practices, which have been used in previous programming periods under the responsibility of managing authorities. In general, it is advisable in cases of fishing shelters that planned interventions are proportional to existing projects and fit for purpose.

⋅1∙ Ministry of Finance/Regional Public Property Directorate for Central Macedonia/Technical Projects Directorate.

⋅2∙ Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 laying down common provisions on the European Regional

Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 320‐469).