The European Commission wants to facilitate access to funding by fishermen and aquaculture producers in the European Union (EU), and proposed amendments to the sector support fund regulation.
© Reuters
21/09/2026
by
Lusa
A amendments to the Regulation of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EFAMPA) aimed at reducing bureaucracy, supporting the energy transition of the sector and strengthening the resilience of coastal communities.
Today's proposal also wants to facilitate the modernisation of fishing vessels by introducing more flexible rules for the replacement and modernisation of engines, along with a simpler approval process and a clearer method for calculating emissions reduction.
According to a statement, the Community executive also proposes to support generational renewal, with more support for young fishermen and fewer obstacles to the transfer of businesses.
Brussels also wants two new funding schemes: one to help fishermen deal with unexpected cuts in quotas, and the other to support small-scale fishing, in particular vessels less than 12 metres and operators using untrailed gear.
The amendment also proposes an increase in the funding of each Member State for fleet and permanent cessation measures, giving national authorities greater flexibility in dealing with imbalances in fleet capacity.
At the same time, the Commission proposal aims to strengthen environmental protection by encouraging support for protected marine areas, fishing restriction zones and safety technologies at sea, in line with the EU’s 2050 climate neutrality objective.
The recommendations were presented today as part of the mid-term evaluation of the EMFF and will be examined by the European Parliament and the Council in the legislative process.