State of implementation of EMFF funds

Subject: State of implementation of EMFF funds

The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) is one of the European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds which complement each other with the aim of fostering economic recovery in Europe through growth and employment.

For Spain, which receives half of the EMFF’s funds, and particularly for Galicia, which receives half of Spain’s EMFF funds, it is an extremely important programme because, as the Commission itself has explained, it eases the transition to sustainable fishing, it helps coastal communities to diversify their economies, it finances projects expected to create jobs and improve quality of life on Europe’s coasts and it makes it easier to access financing.

 Given the EMFF’s importance and the fact that Spain receives more than EUR 1 billion from this fund, could the Commission provide an update on its state of implementation for the current period?

 If a Member State has not implemented the majority of its share of the fund, what measures can the Commission take to push for full implementation and the completion of EMFF-funded projects?

Answer given by Mr Vella on behalf of the European Commission

(20 March 2019)

Under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), each Member State drew up one single national operational programme approved by the Commission, without defining specific regional allocations.

The Commission is aware of delays in the implementation of the EMFF in Spain. According to the latest officially communicated data included in the Annual Implementation Report 2017, 2 917 operations were approved, and 16.5% of the financial allocation was committed.

Although official data submitted to the Commission on programme implementation dates back to the end of 2017, regular monitoring of the programme implementation by the Commission services confirms that progress has been made in 2018. The next Annual Implementation Report to be submitted at the end of May 2019 will include relevant data.

As foreseen by the Common Provisions Regulation (1), the Commission permanently monitors the implementation of the EMFF programme through regular contacts with the Spanish authorities, assessing the information submitted by Spain and encouraging the authorities to speed up the implementation.

The Commission suggests that the Honourable Member, if deemed necessary, contacts the competent managing authority for the programme in Spain (2) for more detailed information regarding the implementation.

⋅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

⋅2∙ Spanish Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Paseo Infanta Isabel, 1, ES — 28071 Madrid, Spain — EMFF Managing Authority — [email protected]