European Parliaments adopts reports on European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and Maritime Spatial Planning Directive

During its last plenary session, the European Parliament adopted both Reports on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) and on the new Directive for Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP).With a budget of €6.5 billion for 2014-2020, the EMFF will finance projects to implement the new reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and provide financial support to fishermen, fish farmers and coastal communities to adapt to the changed rules. The Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions will closely monitor the implementation of the new EMFF. In this context, special attention will be given to the analysis of measures dealing with: the ban on discards, enhancing selectivity, facilitating data collection and production, supporting the local development of coastal communities that depend on fishing, enhancing the creation of European networks of marine protected areas.“It is better to sort on the bottom of the sea than on the bridge of the boat,” said Rapporteur Alain Cadec (EPP-FR) on his blog, after the adoption of the text in Strasbourg and with reference to certain aspects of the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy that will now help to “invest in more selective gears” and “mitigate the consequences of the obligation to land catches”.

Before arriving at its term and ready for the new elections, the European Parliament also approved the Directive on a Framework for Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP), which is a milestone in the EU’s Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP). After this vote, member states have 24 months to implement the Directive and need to establish maritime spatial plans by April 2021 at the latest.

“Those plans will be crucial to foster growth and Member States need an appropriate planning procedure to distribute maritime space as efficiently as possible to the different human activities and where possible encouraging multi-purpose uses such as a combination of off-shore energy installation and aquaculture farming”. Stated Rapporteur Gesine Meissner (ALDE-DE), also pointing out that “already 40% of the EU’s GDP is produced in coastal communities” and “the maritime sector already amounts to almost €500bn”, however “there is still huge potential for further growth and blue growth”.

The Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR) has been involved in the debate on this Directive. As part of its implementation after the final vote by the Council, the CPMR will devote particular attention to contributing to its implementation in terms of the effective link between Maritime Spatial Planning and Integrated Coastal Zone Management, and with the actions carried out by the Regions in their territories and within the scope of sea basin strategies.