The “green light” for financial assistance to the fisheries and aquaculture sectors of the European Union to deal with the economic consequences of the Russian invasion was given by the European Parliament.
MEPs on Wednesday approved the deal reached by MEP negotiators with European governments to provide financial support to the EU’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors to mitigate the effects of the war, with 620 votes in favour, 10 against and 9 abstentions. .
The measure will support fishermen who were forced to cease their activities due to the war in Ukraine, as well as producers and fisheries and aquaculture businesses whose activities were disrupted due to the Russian attack.
MEPs also agreed with the Council to amend the proposal to include businesses and producers whose economic viability was adversely affected by the war and in the manufacturing sector.
Member States will be able to adapt the rules and use the remaining available resources of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) of the 2014-2020 programming period. The compensation will cover the lost income of providers and producers, as well as the additional costs of war, such as increased prices for energy, raw materials and fish feed.
The aid will be granted retroactively from 24 February 2022, i.e. from when the Russian attack began, with a co-financing rate of 75%.
“The funding package will enable the use of additional crisis response measures to support the EU’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In particular, funding will be made available to offset additional costs, loss of income and storage of products, as well as for the temporary suspension of fishing activities. As for the last measure, thanks to the European Parliament, the aid will be extended to businesses that are temporarily unable to continue fishing due to financial constraints,” said EP rapporteur Nuno Melo (EPP, Portugal) after the vote.
Next steps
After approval by the plenary, the EU Council of Ministers will have to formally adopt the agreement, which will enter into force after its publication in the EU’s Official Journal.
Source: Capital
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