CHAPTER I — Priority 1: Fostering sustainable fisheries and the restoration and conservation of aquatic biological resources
Implementation of the CFP
The EMFAF shall support the implementation of the CFP through:
(a)
the provision of scientific advice and knowledge for the purposes of promoting sound and efficient fisheries management decisions under the CFP, including through the participation of experts in scientific bodies;
(b)
regional cooperation on conservation measures as referred to in Article 18 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, in particular in the context of the multiannual plans referred to in Articles 9 and 10 thereof;
(c)
the development and implementation of a Union fisheries control system as provided for in Article 36 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 and further specified in Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009;
(d)
the functioning of Advisory Councils established in accordance with Article 43 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, an objective of which is forming part of, and supporting, the CFP;
(e)
voluntary contributions to the activities of international organisations dealing with fisheries, in accordance with Articles 29 and 30 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013.
Promotion of clean and healthy seas and oceans
1. The EMFAF shall support the promotion of clean and healthy seas and oceans, including through actions to support the implementation of Directive 2008/56/EC and actions to ensure coherence with the objective of achieving a good environmental status as set out in point (j) of Article 2(5) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, and the implementation of the European strategy for plastics in a circular economy.
2. The support referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be in line with the Union environmental legislation, in particular with the objective of achieving or maintaining a good environmental status as set out in Article 1(1) of Directive 2008/56/EC.
CHAPTER II — Priority 2: Fostering sustainable aquaculture activities and processing and marketing of fishery and aquaculture products, thus contributing to food security in the Union.
Market intelligence
The EMFAF shall support the development and dissemination of market intelligence for fishery and aquaculture products by the Commission in accordance with Article 42 of Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013.
CHAPTER III — Priority 3: Enabling a sustainable blue economy in coastal, island and inland areas, and fostering the development of fishing and aquaculture communities
Maritime policy and development of a sustainable blue economy
The EMFAF shall support the implementation of the maritime policy and the development of a sustainable blue economy through:
(a)
the promotion of a sustainable, low carbon and climate resilient blue economy;
(b)
the promotion of an integrated governance and management of the maritime policy, including through maritime spatial planning, sea basin strategies and maritime regional cooperation;
(c)
the enhancement of the transfer and uptake of research, innovation and technology in the sustainable blue economy;
(d)
the improvement of maritime skills, ocean literacy and sharing of socio-economic and environmental data on the sustainable blue economy;
(e)
the development of project pipelines and innovative financing instruments.
CHAPTER IV — Priority 4: Strengthening international ocean governance and enabling seas and oceans to be safe, secure, clean and sustainably managed
European marine observation and data network
The EMFAF shall support the implementation of the EMODnet.
Maritime security and surveillance
The EMFAF shall support the promotion of maritime security and surveillance, including through data sharing, cooperation among coast guards and among agencies, and the fight against criminal and illegal activities at sea.
International ocean governance
The EMFAF shall support the implementation of the international ocean governance policy through:
(a)
voluntary contributions to international organisations active in the field of ocean governance;
(b)
voluntary cooperation with, and coordination among, international fora, organisations, bodies and institutions in the context of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the ‘2030 Agenda’ and other relevant international agreements, arrangements and partnerships;
(c)
the implementation of ocean partnerships between the Union and relevant ocean actors;
(d)
the implementation of relevant international agreements, arrangements and instruments that aim to promote better ocean governance, as well as the development of actions, measures, tools and knowledge that enable safe, secure, clean and sustainably managed seas and oceans;
(e)
the implementation of relevant international agreements, measures and tools to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing;
(f)
international cooperation on, and development of, ocean research and data.
CHAPTER V — Rules for implementation under direct and indirect management
Forms of Union funding
1. The EMFAF may provide funding in any of the forms laid down in the Financial Regulation, in particular procurement and grants pursuant to Titles VII and VIII of that Regulation, respectively. It may also provide financing in the form of financial instruments within blending operations, as referred to in Article 56 of this Regulation.
2. The evaluation of grant proposals may be carried out by independent experts.
Blending operations
Blending operations under the EMFAF shall be implemented in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/523 and Title X of the Financial Regulation.
Evaluation by the Commission
1. Evaluations shall be carried out in a timely manner to feed into the decision-making process. Evaluations shall be entrusted to internal or external experts who are functionally independent.
2. The interim evaluation of the support under Title III shall be performed by the end of 2024.
3. A final evaluation report on the support under Title III shall be prepared by the end of 2031.
4. The Commission shall communicate the evaluation reports referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.
Monitoring under direct and indirect management
1. The Commission shall use the result and output indicators set out in Annex I to monitor the results of the implementation of the EMFAF under direct and indirect management.
2. The Commission shall collect data on operations selected for support under direct and indirect management, including key characteristics of the beneficiary and the operation, as set out in Article 46(3).
Audits
Audits on the use of the Union contribution carried out by persons or entities, including by persons or entities other than those mandated by the Union institutions or bodies, shall form the basis of the overall assurance pursuant to Article 127 of the Financial Regulation.
Information, communication and publicity
1. The recipients of Union funding shall acknowledge the origin of those funds and ensure the visibility of the Union funding, in particular when promoting the actions and their results, by providing coherent, effective and proportionate targeted information to multiple audiences, including the media and the public.
2. The Commission shall implement information and communication actions relating to the EMFAF, to actions taken pursuant to the EMFAF and to the results obtained. Financial resources allocated to the EMFAF shall also contribute to the corporate communication of the political priorities of the Union, insofar as those priorities are related to the priorities referred to in Article 3.
Eligible entities, activities and costs
1. The eligibility criteria set out in paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Article shall apply in addition to the criteria set out in Article 197 of the Financial Regulation.
2. The following entities shall be eligible:
(a)
legal entities established in a Member State or in a third country listed in the work programme under the conditions specified in paragraphs 3 and 4;
(b)
any legal entity created under Union law or any international organisation.
3. Legal entities established in a third country shall be exceptionally eligible to participate where this is necessary for the achievement of the objectives of a given action.
4. Legal entities established in a third country which is not associated to the programme shall in principle bear the cost of their participation.
5. In accordance with point (a) of the second subparagraph of Article 193(2) of the Financial Regulation and by way of derogation from Article 193(4) thereof, taking into account the delayed entry into force of this Regulation and in order to ensure continuity, as established in the financing decision and for a limited period, activities supported under this Regulation and the underlying costs may be considered eligible as of 1 January 2021, even if the activities were implemented and the costs incurred before the grant application was submitted.
Source: EUR-Lex (Publications Office of the EU), © European Union, reuse permitted under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU.
