#CPMR calls on European Commission to work with Regions for more effective post-2020 #EMFF

The Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) is calling for the European Commission to recognise the importance of the European Maritime Fisheries Fund (EMFF) in the post-2020 EU budget, and to reinforce its partnership with Regions to increase the fund’s effectiveness.  CPMR President, Vasco Cordeiro, said: "The results of the Common Fisheries Policy have been positive in recent years. It is now crucial that fisheries and blue growth receive full attention in the upcoming legislative package for the post 2020 EU budget, and the EMFF is given an ambitious budget.”  

In a policy position agreed by its member Regions, the CPMR calls for the European Commission to:

1.       Maintain the EMFF as a specific fund to support the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) as a priority.
2.       Support Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP). The EU needs an IMP in which the EMFF supports pilot initiatives and cross-cutting maritime issues such as climate change, education, maritime spatial planning and the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Shared management should be introduced in the IMP.
3.       Simplify the EMFF to increase its effectiveness for professionals. The number of regulations relating to the CFP and the EMFF should be reduced. The post-2020 EMFF should rely on a results-based approach, rather than on the current logic of defining eligible measures and control procedures.
4.       Reinforce partnership with the Regions at regional, sea-basin and European level. Regions should be strongly involved and it should be possible to develop EMFF regional programs. Specific needs should be reflected in sea-basin strategies, which the EMFF must continue to support. An annual conference on the CFP should be organised.
5.       Provide EMFF with budget in line with ambitions of European union. It is necessary, as a minimum, to maintain the EMFF budget for the post-2020 period.

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