Brussels, March 30 (EFE).- The European Commissioner for Fisheries, Costas Kadis, announced this Monday that he plans to propose the activation of the European Maritime and Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (FEMPA) to help the sector in the face of the crisis derived from the increase in fuel prices.
He admitted that the conflict in the Middle East has affected the fishing and aquaculture sectors, and assured that Brussels is “exploring solutions.”
“We follow very closely on a daily basis how the situation evolves and the impact it has on the fisheries markets and we are willing to act forcefully. In particular, my services are working on solutions within the FEMPA framework,” the commissioner explained to the Fisheries Ministers, gathered in a Council.
He said in this context that his intention is to propose the activation of article 26.2 of the FEMPA Regulation, which makes it possible to articulate support measures for the sector in the event of “extraordinary” episodes, and added that the Commission services “are already working with that objective in mind.”
In addition, he assured that proposals from sector representatives are being studied and that “other additional ideas” raised today by EU countries will be examined.
“The objective is to allow Member States to quickly help affected operators in these difficult times,” he assured.
The point on fisheries was raised during a debate in the Council focused on the energy transition of the fishing sector.
The Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, assured during the meeting that “doing 21st century fishing with 20th century boats is an impossible task” and added that to advance energy sustainability “it is necessary to build new vessels, better adapted to the transition”, and that are more “safe” and “comfortable”.
He regretted, on the other hand, that with a view to the next multi-annual budget period, a reduction in EMFA funds is expected, which will be almost a third of the current funds, and considered that “it will be impossible” to advance under these conditions and “we will have to resort to other instruments.”
In particular, Planas said that he thinks about the EIB “to obtain that public and private financing, necessary for the renewal of the sector.”
Furthermore, the Spanish Minister of Fisheries pointed out that at the current time it is “particularly serious” not to have a crisis reserve in the fishing sector, and that not even that possibility is foreseen in the EC proposal for the period 2028-2034.
“The increase in diesel prices calls urgently and we ask the EC to adopt measures similar to those of the covid or the start of the war in Ukraine,” said Planas, who referred to the measures implemented in Spain to help fishermen.
“It is the only way: that prices do not increase and that our fishermen can go out to fish,” he concluded. EFE
