The European Parliament adopted by 620 votes to 10, with 9 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending and correcting Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 as regards specific measures to alleviate the consequences of the military aggression of Russia against Ukraine on fishing activities and to mitigate the effects of the market disruption caused by that military aggression on the supply chain of fishery and aquaculture products.
The European Parliament adopted its position at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure.
The proposal amends some provisions of Regulation 508/2014 on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) to allow Member States to take measures to mitigate the consequences of Russia's military aggression, which led to a direct interruption of fishing activities (in the Black Sea). It also caused much wider disruption to the market for the supply of fisheries and aquaculture products and contributed to higher prices for energy, raw materials and fish feed.
Parliament backed the proposal which will allow Member States to use the remaining expenditure under the EAGF for the 2014-2020 programming period to mitigate the effects of the market disruption caused by Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine on the supply chain for fisheries and aquaculture products.
The measures include:
- financial compensation to recognised producer organisations and associations of producer organisations which store fishery or aquaculture products in accordance with Articles 30 and 31 of Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council;
- financial compensation to operators of the fishery and aquaculture sector, including the processing sector, for their income foregone, and for additional costs they have incurred due to the market disruption caused by Russias war of aggression against Ukraine and its effects on the supply chain of fishery and aquaculture products. Expenditure for operations supported under those measures should be eligible as from 24 February 2022, which is the date upon which Russias war of aggression against Ukraine commenced;
- financial compensation for the temporary cessation of fishing activities where Russias war of aggression against Ukraine jeopardises the security of fishing activities or where the impact of that war of aggression impedes the economic viability of fishing operations. Such temporary cessation of fishing activities should be eligible as from 24 February 2022.
Both measures should be supported with a maximum co-financing rate of 75% of eligible public expenditure.
Given the need for flexibility in the reallocation of financial resources, it should be possible to reallocate the fixed amounts established for control and enforcement measures and for measures on data collection to the measures alleviating the consequences of Russias war of aggression against Ukraine on fishing activities.
Given the urgency of providing the support needed, the scope of the simplified procedure for amending the operational programmes of Member States should be extended to include amendments related to the specific measures to alleviate the consequences of Russias war of aggression against Ukraine on fishing activities.