Renewing fishing fleets in the outermost regions

Subject: Renewing fishing fleets in the outermost regions

In view of European Parliament resolution of 27 April 2017 on the management of the fishing fleets in the Outermost Regions (ORs), particularly paragraphs 8, 10, 15, 40 and 41 thereof which refer specifically to the dilapidated state of their fleet of vessels for small-scale fishing and the importance of renewing it for economic and safety-related reasons,

In view of the opinion of the Committee on Regional Development on that resolution, which made recommendations long a similar line,

And in view of to the contributions of the Members from the outermost regions to the XIV Conference of Presidents of the Outermost Regions, as well as the calls made by some Members at the meeting with Commissioners Karmenu Vella and Corina Crețu before the conference,

 When does the Commission intend to disburse the necessary funding to renew the fishing fleet in the outermost regions and, in particular, the Autonomous Region of Madeira?

Answer given by Mr Vella on behalf of the European Commission

(9 November 2018)

As concerns the renewal of the fishing fleet, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF 2014-2020 ) (1) may support investments on the fishing fleet in order to improve hygiene, health, safety and working conditions for fishermen. In addition, the EMFF may also support investment in fishing gear and the replacement or modernisation of main or ancillary engines in order to mitigate the effects of climate changes and improve the energy efficiency of vessels.

Furthermore, following the renewed strategy for outermost regions (2), the Commission is currently preparing an amendment to the guidelines for the examination of state aid to the fishery and aquaculture sector. This amendment would allow state aid for the purchase of new fishing vessels in the outermost regions, subject to strict conditions, designed to mitigate the particular challenges faced by fisheries in these regions. The revised guidelines are planned for adoption by the end of 2018. Once adopted, they would allow the relevant Member States, including Portugal, to implement these aid schemes in their outermost regions.

⋅1∙ Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, OJ L 149, 20.5.2014,

p. 1‐66.

⋅2∙ COM(2017) 623 of 24.10.2017.