Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1471309
14 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 22 JUNE 2022 EUROPE THE EP Fisheries Committee approved on Monday financial support for EU fisheries and the aquaculture sector in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. MEPs in the Fisheries Com- mittee adopted their position on a Commission proposal to finan- cially compensate EU fisheries and aquaculture hit by Russia's war in Ukraine, unanimously with 24 votes. The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), accord- ing to the text adopted by MEPs, would support companies whose fishing operations have been jeopardised by the war, and fisheries and aquaculture pro- ducer organisations and oper- ators whose economic viability is threatened due to market and supply chain problems caused by the Russian military aggression. These include a rise in the price of energy, raw materials and fish feed. EU governments would be able to use their remaining EM- FF resources for the 2014-20 programming period to address the war consequences in the fisheries and aquaculture sector. MEPs amended the propos- al to extend the compensation also to those companies whose economic viability has been im- pacted by the conflict and to the processing sector. 75% of co-financing from the Fund would cover their lost income and additional costs caused by disruption to supply chains after the start of the war on 24 February 2022. Besides financial compensa- tion, member states would also be allowed to use the state aid rules more flexibly. This would enable them to set up schemes to provide state aid to fisheries and aquaculture companies af- fected by the crisis. Following the vote, EP rappor- teur Nuno Melo (EPP, PT) said: "The report calls for specific measures to alleviate the market disruption to the seafood sup- ply chain caused by the Russian aggression. The EU must take urgent action to mitigate the im- pact of the war, and ensure the survival of companies and jobs in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors." Next steps This draft negotiating position should be submitted to the ple- nary vote in July. Once Parliament as a whole has approved it, MEPs will be ready to start talks with EU gov- ernments on the final shape of the legislation. Background In 2019, the EU fishing fleet to- talled 73,983 vessels, providing direct employment to 129 540 fishers. Aquaculture employs around 75,000 people, with the process- ing industry comprising around 3,500 companies. Fuel prices are preventing fishing operators from breaking even and the scar- city of marine fuel keeps many vessels in port. Furthermore, there is a lack of sufficient alternatives for species such as Alaska pollack and Russian cod and the lack of vegetable oil is causing serious difficulties for the canning in- dustry. A European Parliament rappor- teur for Kosovo has said ahead of this week's decision on possible candidate status for Ukraine and two other post-Soviet republics that the bloc "must also give something" to hopeful members in the Western Balkans. The rapporteur, German Greens group Member of the European Parliament Viola von Cramon-Taubadel, suggested to reporters in Sarajevo on June 19 that immediate concessions from Brussels would help maintain trust and credibility in the region. The comments come amid a push from EU-member Slovenia for accelerated admission of as- piring members in the Western Balkans and unconditional can- didate status for Bosnia-Herze- govina, which is battling seces- sionist efforts by ethnic Serbian leaders who are closely allied with Moscow. "We European parliamentari- ans always say that in case Mol- dova and Ukraine are given can- didate status, we must also give something to the countries of the Western Balkans to show that we are credible and that trust in us is not completely lost," von Cra- mon-Taubadel said. Pressed by reporters for specif- ic measures, she cited officially opening accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Al- bania, giving candidate status to Bosnia, and liberalizing the visa regime with Kosovo. But von Cramon-Taubadel added, "We are all against any acceleration, shortcuts, or ne- gotiations, even about member- ship." She said she was unfamiliar with the details of the Slovenian proposal, which was reportedly going to be unveiled by Ljubljana as soon as June 20. In a letter to European Council President Charles Michel, Slo- venian President Borut Pahor on June 16 said Western Balkan states appeared ever more dis- tant despite past promises while Ukraine and Moldova were be- ing fast-tracked since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began on February 24. Pahor called Bosnia a risk of runaway nationalism and in- stability -- citing Bosnian Serb separatism with tacit Russian backing -- and said it was "abso- lutely necessary to uncondition- ally grant Bosnia-Herzegovina the status of a candidate for EU membership." Leaders of all 27 EU states will consider membership applica- tions from Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia at a summit on June 23-24. "The aim of the Slovenian proposal that suggests granting EU candidate status to [Bosnia] without delay is to send an im- mediate positive signal to [Bos- nia] and the entire Western Bal- kans region," Pahor's proposal reportedly says. "Such a signal to [Bosnia], opening accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Al- bania, as well as visa liberaliza- tion for Kosovo would reconfirm the EU's commitment to the Western Balkans." Von Cramon-Taubadel was in Sarajevo along with an EU del- egation to learn more about the situation in Bosnia, which is still governed under an ethnic-based agreement in 1995 that ended years of intense fighting in Bos- nia following the breakup of Yu- goslavia. MEPs endorse alleviating consequences of war for EU fisheries and aquaculture EU rapporteur adds to pressure for Brussels to give Balkans 'something' amid Ukraine push These articles are part of a content series called Ewropej. This is a multi-newsroom initiative part-funded by the European Parliament to bring the work of the EP closer to the citizens of Malta and keep them informed about matters that affect their daily lives. These articles reflect only the authors' view. The European Parliament is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.