1. UE Financial support to Aquaculture
IPA 2009 TWINNING PROJECT HR/09/IB/AG/01
“STRENGTHENING OF CROATIAN ADMINISTRATION IN CHARGE FOR STRUCTURAL POLICY
AND STATE AID IN FISHERIES”
UE Financial support to Aquaculture
EFF 2007 – 2013
EMFF 2014 – 2020
National Workshop
Aquaculture products on EU and domestic market
Zadar, Croatia 6-7 June 2013
Ministry of Agriculture

2. Content Aquaculture and EU Structural Policy. EFF 2007 – 2013.
Croatian EFF.
EMFF 2014 – 2020.
National Workshop "AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS ON EU AND DOMESTIC MARKET". Zadar, Croatia. 6-7 June 2013

3. I. Aquaculture and EU Structural Policy
Aquaculture as a part of CFP
CFP
Common Market Organisation
Structural Policy
Agreements with third countries
Resource conservation and management policy
National Workshop "AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS ON EU AND DOMESTIC MARKET". Zadar, Croatia. 6-7 June 2013

4. EU Structural Policy: Background
1957
CAP (Common Agricultural Policy)
1970
CMO in fisheries and aquaculture products
EAGGF (European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund)
1983
CFP (Common Fisheries Policy)
1993
1st Reform CFP
FIFG (Fisheries Instrument for Financing Guidance )
2002
2nd Reform CFP
2007
EFF (European Fisheries Fund)
2013
3rd Reform CFP
EMFF (European Maritime and Fisheries fund) ?
???
National Workshop "AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS ON EU AND DOMESTIC MARKET". Zadar, Croatia. 6-7 June 2013

5. Financial Support to Aquaculture: Evolution
EAGGF: support to construction, modernisation, marketing and processing within the fisheries sector.
FIFG: Capital investments in aquaculture which:
(a) contribute to lasting economic benefits from the structural improvement in question;
(b) offer an adequate guarantee of technical and economic viability;
(c) avoid counterproductive effects, particularly the risk of creating surplus production capacity.
EFF: Measures for productive investments in aquaculture.
EMFF: Promotion of aquaculture with high level of environmental protection and of animal health and welfare and of public health and safety.
National Workshop "AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS ON EU AND DOMESTIC MARKET". Zadar, Croatia. 6-7 June 2013

6. II. EFF: 2007 – 2013
Aquaculture investments are under “Priority Axis 2: aquaculture, inland fishing, processing and marketing of fishery and aquaculture products”. Scope in aquaculture production:
measures for productive investments;
Aqua-environmental measures;
Public health measures;
Animal health measures.
Priority Axis 3: measures of common interest and Priority Axis 4: sustainable development of fisheries areas.
National Workshop "AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS ON EU AND DOMESTIC MARKET". Zadar, Croatia. 6-7 June 2013

7. General criteria:
Transfer of ownership is not eligible for Community aid.
Support may contribute to lifelong learning.
Operations realised for the purpose of guaranteeing compliance with standards under Community law may be granted until the date on which the standards become mandatory.
Avoid counterproductive effects: surplus production capacity or adversely affecting conservation of fishing resources.
Environmental Assessment.
National Workshop "AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS ON EU AND DOMESTIC MARKET". Zadar, Croatia. 6-7 June 2013

8. Measures for productive investments in aquaculture.
EFF may support investments in
construction,
extension,
equipment and
modernisation of production installation
In particular with a view to improving
working conditions,
hygiene,
human or animal health and
product quality
Or reducing negative impact on the environment.
Investment aid is limited to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and enterprises with less than 750 employees or turnover less than EUR 200 million.
National Workshop "AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS ON EU AND DOMESTIC MARKET". Zadar, Croatia. 6-7 June 2013

9. Measures for productive investments in aquaculture: EFF objectives.
Diversification towards new species and production of species with good market prospects.
Implementation of aquaculture methods substantially reducing negative impact or enhancing positive effects on the environment compared with normal practices.
Support for traditional aquaculture activities important for preserving and developing both the economic and social fabric and the environment.
Support for the purchase of equipment aiming at protecting the farms from wild predators.
Improvement of the working conditions of aquaculture workers.
National Workshop "AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS ON EU AND DOMESTIC MARKET". Zadar, Croatia. 6-7 June 2013

10. Aqua-environmental measures
EFF may support granting compensation for the use of aquaculture production methods helping to protect and improve the environment and to conserve nature. It promotes:
Forms of aquaculture comprising protections and enhancement of the environment, natural resources, genetic diversity, traditional features,…
Participation in the Community EMAS (eco-management and audit schemes). Reg (EC) 761/2001.
Organic aquaculture. Reg (EC) 2092/91.
Sustainable aquaculture compatible with specific environmental constraints resulting from the designation of NATURA 2000 areas. Council Directive 94/43/EC.
National Workshop "AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS ON EU AND DOMESTIC MARKET". Zadar, Croatia. 6-7 June 2013

11. Public and Animal Health measures
EFF may contribute to compensation to mollusc farmers for the temporary suspension of harvesting of farmed molluscs owing to the proliferation of toxin-producing plankton. It has to be more than 4 months or the lost must represent more that 35% of the annual turnover.
EFF may contribute to the financing of the control and eradication diseases in aquaculture. Council Decision 90/424/EEC.
National Workshop "AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS ON EU AND DOMESTIC MARKET". Zadar, Croatia. 6-7 June 2013

12. Aid Intensity Limits (Regions covered by Convergence objective)
Measures for productive investment in aquaculture
EFF contribution
National contribution
≥ 40%
Contribution by the Private Beneficiaries
≤ 60%
Aqua-environmental, public and animal health (or collective actions)
EFF contribution
National contribution
100%
National Workshop "AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS ON EU AND DOMESTIC MARKET". Zadar, Croatia. 6-7 June 2013

13. III. Croatian EFF Short implementation period.
Small budget (EFF: 8,7 M EUR).
OP reduced to a few measures (aquaculture is one of them).
Objective: “modernisation and increase of production together with increase of competitiveness of the aquaculture sector”.
National Workshop "AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS ON EU AND DOMESTIC MARKET". Zadar, Croatia. 6-7 June 2013

14. Eligibility criteria
applicant must be a holder of a valid licence for mariculture and/or freshwater aquaculture
applicant must regularly report production according to national legislation
operation is in conformity with horizontal legislation governing environmental and nature protection, spatial planning and construction
operation must be sustainable from economic, technical and financial aspect …
National Workshop "AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS ON EU AND DOMESTIC MARKET". Zadar, Croatia. 6-7 June 2013

15. Selection criteria Size of the enterprise Location of the investment …
National Workshop "AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS ON EU AND DOMESTIC MARKET". Zadar, Croatia. 6-7 June 2013

16. Other relevant info
Supported operations must continue at least during five years after the date of the financing decision without substantial modifications.
Different offers could be required (for supplying operations).
A professional signed project could be required (for construction of new structures).
Special attention must be paid to the environmental assessment of the operation and to the licences.
Avoid cash payments and keep original invoices (audit trail).
National Workshop "AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS ON EU AND DOMESTIC MARKET". Zadar, Croatia. 6-7 June 2013

17. Other relevant info (cont)
Aid is a reimbursement. Money comes when granted investment has been completed.
All investments have a deadline and must be completed before a fixed date but not before the starting date for eligibility (1st July).
Expenditure co-financed by EFF shall not receive assistance from another Community financial instrument.
Operation costs are NOT eligible.
Visibility.
National Workshop "AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS ON EU AND DOMESTIC MARKET". Zadar, Croatia. 6-7 June 2013

18. IV. EMFF 2014 – 2020 Regulation is still under discussion.
On December 2011, the EC adopted a proposal for a new EMFF in the context of a multiannual financial framework for and the reform of the CFP.
National Workshop "AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS ON EU AND DOMESTIC MARKET". Zadar, Croatia. 6-7 June 2013

19. EMFF Union Priorities (P1)
Promoting a sustainable and resource efficient fisheries and aquaculture including related processing through the focus on the following specific objectives:
Reduction of the impact of fisheries en the marine environment;
Protection and restoration of aquatic biodiversity and ecosystems;
Enhancement of ecosystems related to aquaculture and promotion of resource efficient aquaculture;
Promotion of aquaculture with high level of environmental protection and of animal health and welfare and public health and safety.
National Workshop "AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS ON EU AND DOMESTIC MARKET". Zadar, Croatia. 6-7 June 2013

20. EMFF Union Priorities (P2)
Fostering innovative, competitive and knowledge based fisheries and aquaculture including related processing through the focus on the following specific objectives:
Support to strengthening technological development, innovation and knowledge transfer;
Enhancement of the competitiveness and viability of fisheries and aquaculture enterprises, including, in fisheries, of small scale coastal fleet and improvement of safety or working conditions and, in aquaculture, of SMEs in particular;
Development of new professional skills and lifelong learning;
Improved market organisation for fisheries and aquaculture products;
National Workshop "AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS ON EU AND DOMESTIC MARKET". Zadar, Croatia. 6-7 June 2013

21. EMFF Union Priorities (P3)
Fostering the implementation of the CFP.
Increasing employment and territorial cohesion
Fostering the implementation of the Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP).
National Workshop "AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS ON EU AND DOMESTIC MARKET". Zadar, Croatia. 6-7 June 2013

22. Sustainable development of aquaculture (1)
Innovation (in collaboration with scientific and public results).
Developing technical innovation or knowledge.
New aquaculture species with good market potential
Technical or economic feasibility of innovation, products or processes
National Workshop "AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS ON EU AND DOMESTIC MARKET". Zadar, Croatia. 6-7 June 2013

23. Sustainable development of aquaculture (2)
Productive investments:
Productive investments.
Diversification of aquaculture production and species cultures.
Modernisation of aquaculture units.
Improvements related to animal health.
Reducing negative impact on the environment.
Investments in enhancing quality of products.
Restoration of existing ponds or lagoons through removal of silt.
National Workshop "AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS ON EU AND DOMESTIC MARKET". Zadar, Croatia. 6-7 June 2013

24. Sustainable development of aquaculture (3)
Management, relief and advisory services for aquaculture farms.
Promoting human capital and networking.
Increasing the potential of aquaculture sites.
Conversion to eco-management and audit schemes and organic aquaculture.
Aquaculture providing environmental services.
Public health.
Animal health and welfare.
Aquaculture stock insurance.
National Workshop "AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS ON EU AND DOMESTIC MARKET". Zadar, Croatia. 6-7 June 2013

25. Remarks
Operational programme (consistent with the Multiannual National Strategic Plan for Aquaculture).
Intensity of public aid 50% of the total eligible expenditure of the operation.
A lot of pendant issues: Common Strategic Framework, Position Paper, Partnership Agreement, ex ante conditionalities, performance framework …
National Workshop "AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS ON EU AND DOMESTIC MARKET". Zadar, Croatia. 6-7 June 2013

26. Thank you for your attention!
Adolfo Merino
Resident Twining Adviser
EU IPA 2009 Twining Project
“Strengthening of Croatian administration in charge for structural policy
and state aid in fisheries”
Ministry of Agriculture
Planinska 2ª Zagreb, Croatia
Phone: +385 (0)
National Workshop "AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS ON EU AND DOMESTIC MARKET". Zadar, Croatia. 6-7 June 2013