EMFF Summary Briefing

The EMFF Summary Briefing by ClientEarth critiques the 2014-2020 funding instrument for the EU fisheries and aquaculture sectors. The report argues that the final regulation fails to make aid sufficiently conditional on compliance with environmental and CFP rules, reintroduces damaging subsidies for vessel cessation and engine replacement, and lacks strict sustainability requirements for aquaculture. It also notes that total public funding for data collection and fisheries control has remained stagnant despite increased requirements. ClientEarth recommends that Member States use their national discretion to enhance conditionality, avoid harmful subsidies, and increase transparency and funding for monitoring.

• The EMFF's conditionality for aid is insufficient because it only applies to 'serious infringements' of the CFP, allowing operators who commit non-serious infringements to still receive or keep funding.
• The requirement to prove 'fraud' rather than 'irregularities' for financing inconsistencies creates a high legal barrier, as it necessitates criminal proceedings and a court conviction, which delays the recovery of misused public funds.
• The report identifies the reintroduction of damaging subsidies, including aid for young fishers to acquire vessels despite overcapacity, and financial aid for temporary and permanent cessation of fishing activities.
• Permanent cessation aid is criticized as not being truly permanent, as fishers can re-enter the sector after 2 years and owners can register a new vessel after 5 years.
• Engine replacement aid is highlighted as a primary driver of overcapacity because technological advancements increase a vessel's fishing capacity even if the fleet segment is considered balanced.
• The EMFF lacks mandatory sustainability conditions for aquaculture development, potentially allowing funding for large enterprises, products not for human consumption, and activities in marine protected areas.
• Total public funding for data collection and fisheries control has not effectively increased because a rise in EU allocation was offset by a decrease in national contributions.
• Transparency is deemed insufficient, specifically regarding the publication of names of natural persons receiving aid, which does not align with the more transparent approach used in the Common Agricultural Policy.

APA

Tacconi, F., & Veitch, L. (2014). EMFF Summary Briefing. ClientEarth. https://www.clientearth.org/media/a30bdoyr/clientearth-report-on-sustainability-in-the-european-maritime-and-fisheries-fund-ce-en.pdf

Chicago

Tacconi, Flaminia, and Liane Veitch. EMFF Summary Briefing. ClientEarth, 2014. https://www.clientearth.org/media/a30bdoyr/clientearth-report-on-sustainability-in-the-european-maritime-and-fisheries-fund-ce-en.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Tacconi |first1=Flaminia |last2=Veitch |first2=Liane |title=EMFF Summary Briefing |publisher=ClientEarth |date=May 2014 |url=https://www.clientearth.org/media/a30bdoyr/clientearth-report-on-sustainability-in-the-european-maritime-and-fisheries-fund-ce-en.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{tacconi2014emff, author = {Tacconi, Flaminia and Veitch, Liane}, title = {{EMFF Summary Briefing}}, institution = {ClientEarth}, year = {2014}, month = may, url = {https://www.clientearth.org/media/a30bdoyr/clientearth-report-on-sustainability-in-the-european-maritime-and-fisheries-fund-ce-en.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }