MEMO/08/6
Brussels, 8 January 2008
Italy: Operational Programme for the Italian fisheries and aquaculture sector (Programma Operativo FEP per il settore pesca in Italia) co-funded by the European Fisheries Fund Summary
The European Commission recently approved the Operational Programme for the Italian fisheries sector for the period 2007-2013. The total eligible public expenditure of the programme is € 848,685,708, with EU assistance through the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) amounting to € 424,342,854.
The programme covers the entire Italian territory. € 318,281,864 of the EFF assistance will be allocated to the convergence regions of Italy and € 106,060,990 to the non-convergence regions.
The purpose and aim of the EU investment
During 2000-2006 Italy benefited from EU support under the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) of around € 410 million. As a result more than 5,200 projects were supported and approximately 30,300 jobs were maintained in marine fisheries.
The new EU programme for 2007-2013 aims to build on the success of the previous programme and consolidate the preconditions for a viable fisheries and aquaculture sector that respects the environment and meets the demands of consumers and the food industry.
Priority axes
Priority 1: Adaptation of the EU fishing fleet
This priority axis aims at promoting sustainable and profitable fishing in maritime areas. Measures envisaged are particularly aimed at promoting a sustainable balance between resources and the fishing capacity of the fleet through permanent and temporary cessation of fishing activities, investments on-board fishing vessels and fishing gear selectivity, support for small-scale coastal fishing, and socio-economic measures such as training and diversification of activities.
Priority 2: Aquaculture, inland fishing, processing and marketing of fishery and aquaculture products.
The objective of this axis is to promote sustainable and profitable business activities in aquaculture, fish processing, marketing and inland fishing. Measures are particularly aimed at improving quality and hygiene, enhancing working conditions, developing new innovative and environmentally-friendly methods and promoting niche production.
Priority 3: Measures of common interest
This priority 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. This axis consequently foresees the financing of collective actions, measures intended to protect and develop aquatic fauna and flora, investments in existing public or private fishing ports with the aim of improving services offered, the development of new markets and promotional campaigns, pilot projects and the modification of fishing vessels for their reassignment.
Priority 4: Sustainable development of fisheries areas
Based on a bottom-up local development approach, this axis aims, through the implementation of a strategy based on local actors, at facilitating regional business activities, particularly by developing co-operation and reinforcing cluster thinking in the fisheries sector at the initiative of local fisheries groups. Regional development and co-operation projects, actions associated with the diversification of activities with the aim of promoting multiple employment for fishers, transnational co-operation projects and communication activities shall also be financed under this priority axis.
Priority 5: Technical assistance
Support is provided under this axis to ensure that the management, control and monitoring systems of the operational programme function efficiently and that the programme and aid are implemented in an appropriate manner.
Responsible Authority and contact details
Ministry for Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Directorate General for Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture
Managing Authority for Operational Programme "Operational Programme for the Italian fisheries sector"
Director General: Francesco Saverio ABATE
Head of Division: Rossella SALVATORI
Address: MIPAAF – Direzione Generale pesca marittima e acquacoltura, Divisione PEMACQ 5 Viale dell'Arte, 16 I-00144 ROMA
Tel. +39 06 5908 4531
Fax +39 06 5908 4818
E-mail: PEMACQ5@politicheagricole.it Web: http://www.politicheagricole.it/
Operational Programme for the Italian fisheries sector "Programma Operativo FEP per il settore pesca in Italia", co-funded by EFF
Intervention type: Operational Programme
Financial table
Financing plan by priority axis for the period 2007-2013 (in EUR)
Convergence objective regions. Priority axes Total Public a=(b+c) EFF Contribution (b) National Contribution (c) EFF co-financing rate (d)=(b)/(a)*100 Priority axis 1 248,259,854 124,129,927 124,129,927 50 Priority axis 2 159,140,932 79,570,466 79,570,466 50 Priority axis 3 162,323,752 81,161,876 81,161,876 50 Priority axis 4 35,011,004 17,505,502 17,505,502 50 Priority axis 5 31,828,186 15,914,093 15,914,093 50 Total 636,563,728 318,281,864 318,281,864 50 Non-convergence objective regions. Priority axes Total Public a=(b+c) EFF Contribution (b) National Contribution (c) EFF co-financing rate(d)=(b)/(a)*100 Priority axis 1 82,727,574 41,363,787 41,363,787 50 Priority axis 2 53,030,494 26,515,247 26,515,247 50 Priority axis 3 54,091,104 27,045,552 27,045,552 50 Priority axis 4 11,666,708 5,833,354 5,833,354 50 Priority axis 5 10,606,100 5,303,050 5,303,050 50 Total 212,121,980 106,060,990 106,060,990 50 
