Establishing a funding programme to provide information on the EMFF

Subject: Establishing a funding programme to provide information on the EMFF

Each year, the ‘Funds for information measures relating to the common agricultural policy’ programme co-finances projects to inform the public about the common agricultural policy (CAP).

Through information campaigns, audiovisual activities, articles and apps, citizens are informed about the measures made available by the EU in the agricultural sector.

A similar initiative should be adopted also for the fisheries and aquaculture sector, to inform operators, and any members of the public who might be interested, of the opportunities offered by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF).

Indeed, the EMFF is often not used because of a lack of sufficient knowledge and difficulty in understanding the administrative procedures that need to be followed.

Given that fisheries and aquaculture are among the sectors which have been the most adversely affected by the COVID-19 crisis, to the extent that they have been the subject of extraordinary support measures on the part of the EU, and in view of the new EMFF 2021-2027, can the Commission answer the following questions:

1. Is it aware that less attention is being paid to fisheries compared to other production sectors, despite the excellent job being done by specialist journals and journalists?

2. Will it take into consideration the advisability and feasibility of a funding programme for information and communication measures relating to the EMFF and to European fisheries policies, along the lines of the action taken for the CAP?

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

1. The Commission does not systematically monitor the relative amount of media attention allotted to different sectors of the economy. At the same time, the Commission is not of the view that the fisheries sector receives disproportionately less coverage than other economic sectors, relative to its size.

2. According to Article 58 and 59 of the Common Provisions Regulation (1) (CPR), both the Commission and the Member States may finance activities in relation to communication and information. Within this context, the Commission published a guidance to beneficiaries (2) on how to access and use the European Structural and Investment Funds, of which the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) is part. Furthermore, the Commission is operating a specific website (3) dedicated to the most important information on the EMFF.

Achieved results may also be followed on the Open Data Platform (4). Member States — in line with Article 119 of the EMFF Regulation (5) — are obliged to publish the list of operations financed by the EMFF, to inform potential beneficiaries of funding opportunities, and to publicise to the wider public the results and achievements of the EMFF. These obligations are reinforced in the Commission proposals for the post-2020 period (6).

⋅1∙ 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. ⋅2∙ https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/guides/synergy/synergies_beneficiaries.pdf . ⋅3∙ https://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/cfp/emff_en

⋅4∙ https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/ .

⋅5∙ Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and repealing Council

Regulations (EC) No 2328/2003, (EC) No 861/2006, (EC) No 1198/2006 and (EC) No 791/2007 and Regulation (EU) No 1255/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council, OJ L 149, 20.5.2014, p. 1‐66.

⋅6∙ Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and repealing Regulation

(EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council COM/2018/390 final and Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum and Migration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Border Management and Visa Instrument COM/2018/375 final — 2018/0196 (COD).