European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)

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The EMFF is the fund for the EU's maritime and fisheries policies for 2014-2020. (Information on funding after 2020 is available here: EU budget: Commission proposes a new fund to invest in the maritime economy and support fishing communities)

It is one of the five European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds which complement each other and seek to promote a growth and job based recovery in Europe.

The fund

helps fishermen in the transition to sustainable fishing
supports coastal communities in diversifying their economies
finances projects that create new jobs and improve quality of life along European coasts
supports sustainable aquaculture developments
makes it easier for applicants to access financing.

How it works

The Fund is used to co-finance projects, along with national funding.

Each country is allocated a share of the total Fund budget, based on the size of its fishing industry.
Each country then draws up an operational programme, saying how it intends to spend the money.
Once the Commission approves this programme, it is up to the national authorities to decide which projects will be funded.
The national authorities and the Commission are jointly responsible for the implementation of the programme.

How to access EMFF funding

To see if your project is eligible for EMFF support:

First check with the national authority in charge of managing the operational programme in your country.
Then follow the relevant application procedures so that the managing authority can check the eligibility of your project and whether it meets the relevant selection criteria and investment priorities.

EMFF implementation

EMFF and other EU funds (ESI)

The EMFF is one of five European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds which together, promote a growth and job based recovery in Europe. Learn more about the links between funds and how Member States are applying them.
A monthly newsletter (“European Structural and Investment Funds Open Data”) on the ESI funds, which contains open source data on the use of the Funds, as published by the Member States, is available for subscription here.

More information

Coronavirus: European Commission helps Member States support local fishing and aquaculture communities through EU and national funds
Financial allocation per member state
EMFF Operational Programme and fact sheets
Questions and answers
EMFF support to small-scale coastal fishermen (leaflet)
Mainstreaming of climate action in ESI funds
European Structural and Investment Funds: guidance for beneficiaries (Regional policy website)
European Structural and Investment Funds, Common Provisions Regulation: legal texts (Regional policy website)
Funding 2021-2027
Infographic:

Legal texts

The Common Provisions Regulation

The Common Provisions Regulation ((EU) No 1303/2013) defines a common set of rules for all ESI funds. This includes provisions concerning conditionality, performance review, arrangements for monitoring, reporting, evaluation and eligibility rules.

Basic regulation

REGULATION (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)

Commission implementing acts (decisions and regulations)

Summary table

Commission implementing decisions

2014/372/EU: setting out the annual breakdown by Member State of the global resources of the EMFF available in the framework of shared management
2014/464/EU: identifying the priorities of the Union for enforcement and control policy in the framework of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund

Commission implementing regulations deriving from the EMFF

763/2014 on information and publicity
771/2014 on OP template, template for transmission of information, compensation to outermost regions.
- Corrigendum published on 3.2.2016
- Corrigendum to HR linguistic version published on 25.4.2015
772/2014 on intensity of public aid
1242/2014 on the presentation of cumulative data on operations
- Corrigendum to ES, IT, HU, LT and MT linguistic versions published on 18.6.2015
1243/2014 on the information sent by Member States and on data needs and synergies between sources
- Corrigendum to all linguistic versions published on 22.8.2015
- Amendment - Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/788 of 8 May 2017
1362/2014 on amendments to operational programmes and presentation of EMFF annual implementation reports
2020/1027 on the implementation and monitoring of specific measures to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in the fishery and aquaculture sector

Commission implementing regulations deriving from the CPR

184/2014 on electronic data exchange (SFC2014)
215/2014 on the methodology for climate change support
1232/2014 on methodologies for climate change support adapted to the EMFF
821/2014 on programme contributions, financial instruments, communication and system to record and store data
964/2014 on "off-the-shelf" financial instruments
1011/2014 on submission of information to the Commission and exchange of information between beneficiaries and national authorities
2015/207 on the models for reports, management declaration, audit strategy and opinion, annual control report, cost-benefit analysis
2015/1974 on reporting of irregularities

Commission delegated regulations

Commission delegated regulations deriving from the EMFF

2015/288 on the period of time and the dates for the inadmissibility of operations
2015/2252 on the period of inadmissibility of applications for support from the EMFF
1014/2014 on the common monitoring and evaluation system
- Corrigendum to the annex of the Delegated Act (list of common indicators) - 3/12/2014
- Corrigendum to the annex of the Delegated Act (list of common indicators) - 7/10/2015
1046/2014 on the calculation of additional costs in the compensation plan for outermost regions
2015/531 on eligible costs to improve health and safety as well as working conditions of fishermen, to protect the marine environment and to increase the energy efficiency and to mitigate climate change
2015/616 adapting references to EMFF in Delegated Regulation (EU) No 480/2014
2015/852 on cases of non-compliance with the Common Fisheries Policy that may lead to interruptions or suspension of EMFF payments
2015/895 on transitional provisions
2015/1930 on financial corrections

Commission delegated regulations deriving from the CPR

240/2014 on the code of conduct of the European Structural and Investment Funds
480/2014 on provisions supplementing CPR parts two, three and four
2015/1970 supplementing the CPR on reporting of irregularities concerning the ESIF

European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)

European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)

European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)

European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)

Legal texts

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