Answer given by Mr Sinkevičius on behalf of the European Commission (9 February 2023)
Both under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) and the European, Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), each Member State drew up a national programme approved by the Commission, without defining specific regional allocations. The Commission monitors the programme implementation by Member States but only at national level.
The Commission is aware of the delays in the implementation of the EMFF in Spain. According to the latest officially communicated data by the Spanish managing authority in December 2022, 80% of the financial allocation was committed.
Regular monitoring of the programme implementation by the Commission services confirms that some progress has been made in the past years; however, the Spanish authorities at both national and regional level need to sustain and further reinforce the management efforts for both the EMFF and the EMFAF.
The Commission approved the Spanish EMFAF programme on 29 November 2022, which has set ambitious objectives, including the increase of the resilience of the fisheries, aquaculture and processing sectors in Spain.
The sustainable development and economic diversification of the coastal fishing and aquaculture communities will be strengthened and access to the fund improved, particularly for operators in the small-scale coastal fisheries.
If deemed necessary, the Honourable Member could contact the competent authority in Spain (1) for more detailed information regarding EMFF and EMFAF implementation at national and regional level.
1 ∙ ⸱ Spanish Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Paseo Infanta Isabel, 1, 28071 Madrid, Spain — EMFF Managing Authority —
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