Germany: Operational Programme "European Fisheries Fund (EFF) 2007-2013 of the Federal Republic of Germany" (Operationelles Programm Europäischer Fischereifonds (EFF), Förderperiode 2007-2013, Bundesrepublik Deutschland)

MEMO/07/617

Brussels, 21 December 2007

Summary

The European Commission recently approved the Operational Programme for the European Fisheries Fund in Germany for the period 2007-2013. The total eligible public expenditure of the programme amounts to € 247,156,670 with EU assistance through the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) amounting to € 155,865,417.

The programme covers the entire territory of the Federal Republic of Germany (not including Saarland). Assistance is divided between the convergence and non-convergence regions[1] of Germany, with the convergence regions receiving 62% of the EFF allocations.

The purpose and aim of EU support

During 2000-2006, Germany benefited from EU support under the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) of € 170 million, out of which some € 91.5 million were attributed to the Objective 1 area covering mainly the eastern part of Germany, and € 78.4 million to the outside Objective 1 area. By the end of 2006, a total of 2,692 projects had been supported under the two programmes, mainly investments in fishing port facilities, aquaculture, processing and marketing.

The new EU programme for 2007-2013 aims to build on the success of the previous programme by further consolidating the framework for a viable fisheries and aquaculture sector that respects the environment and meets the demands of consumers and the food industry. In order to achieve this, the Operational Programme is built upon 5 priority axes.

Priority axes

Priority 1: Adaptation of the EU fishing fleet

The primary objective of this axis is to promote sustainable fisheries, in particular by creating a framework for the fleet that secures its existence and future perspectives. The main EFF measures envisaged to meet this objective are investments in modernisation on board vessels, including engine replacement to improve energy efficiency, and improvement of the selectivity of fishing gear. Measures for small-scales fisheries and support for young fishers are also foreseen.

Priority 2: Aquaculture, inland fishing, processing and marketing of fishery and aquaculture products.

The objective of this axis is to promote competitive and profitable business activities in aquaculture, fish processing and inland fishing. All these sectors are key areas of the German fishing industry, alongside sea fishing, and therefore need to be secured and – where possible – developed. The main EFF measures envisaged are support for productive investments in aquaculture, processing and marketing, aqua-environmental measures, and support for inland fishing.

Priority 3: Measures of common interest

This axis supports measures of common interest with a broader scope than measures normally undertaken by private enterprises and which help to meet the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy. Special emphasis is given to pilot projects and measures for the protection and development of aquatic resources, such as rehabilitation of spawning grounds, and investments in ports. This range of measures is complemented by collective actions and marketing measures.

Priority 4: Sustainable development of fisheries areas

This axis aims at contributing to the sustainable development and improvement of the quality of life in fisheries areas by adding value to fisheries and aquaculture products, maintaining and creating jobs and improving the quality of the coastal environment. These objectives will be pursued in the framework of local development strategies set up by fisheries groups located on the North Sea Coast, the Baltic Sea Coast and in carp pond areas.

Priority 5: Technical assistance

Support under this axis ensures that the management, control and monitoring systems of the operational programme function efficiently and that the programme is implemented in an appropriate manner.

Responsible Authority and contact details

Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture

and Consumer Protection (Coordination)

Dr. Gerd CONRAD

Rochusstraße 1

D- 53123 Bonn

Tel:+ 49-228-99529-4227

Fax: + 49-228-99529-4410

E-mail:621@bmelv.bund.de Web:

http://www.bmelv.de/cln_044/nn_754188/EN/00Home/homepage__node.html__nnn=true

Financial Table: Operational Programme for the period 2007-2013 (OperationellesProgramm Europäischer Fischereifonds (EFF), Förderperiode 2007- 2013, Bundesrepublik Deutschland), co-funded by the EFF

Financial tables

Financing plan by priority axis for the period 2007-2013 (in EUR)

[1] Convergence: Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony (Lüneburg region only), Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia. Non-convergence: Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Bremen, Hambourg, Hessen, Lower Saxony (excluding Lüneburg), North-Rhine Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Schleswig-Holstein. [2] The EFF co-financing rate may be rounded in the table. The precise rate used to reimburse payments is the percentage (d). [3] In the case of operational programmes covering a mix of regions eligible under the Convergence Objective and the non-Convergence Objective, the total public contribution for priority axis 5 may be allocated to the predominant type of regions which have the highest total amount of public contribution in the operational programme.