The meeting of European agriculture and fisheries ministers on Monday 18 May will address a number of important issues for the EU maritime and fisheries policy.

For the next long-term EU budget 2021-2027, the Commission is proposing €6.14 billion under a simpler, more flexible fund for European fisheries and the maritime economy.

What is the EMFF? The EMFF is the Union fund that will support the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the growth of a sustainable blue economy and the European Union's international commitments in the field of ocean governance.

A new report published today highlights what the five EU funds have achieved since the beginning of the funding period, as the implementation of the 2014-2020 programmes has now reached full speed.

With a coastline 7 times as long as the United States' and 4 times as long as Russia's, the EU's maritime regions are home to almost half the EU's population and account for almost half its GDP. Fisheries and the maritime economy are drivers for jobs and growth in Europe's coastal communities.

A recent independent study of the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) points to some success in supporting the fisheries sector during the past programming period (2007-2013). The evaluation also identifies areas for improvement, in particular in terms of impact and sustainability. Most of these shortcomings are already being addressed in the ongoing program, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (2014-2020).