COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE EVALUATION Interim Evaluation of the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) for the Sustainable Development of EU Aquaculture
Date: 2020-01-14
Institutions: Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Commission
Subjects: EU Member State, EU strategy, aquaculture, common fisheries policy, conservation of resources, fishery management, open method of coordination, sustainable development, sustainable fisheries

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   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 14.1.2020  SWD(2020) 7 final  COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT  EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE EVALUATION  Interim Evaluation       of the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) for the Sustainable Development of EU Aquaculture {SWD(2020) 6 final}  
 
 
This  Staff  Working  Document  presents  the  summary  of  the  results  of  the 
interim  evaluation  of  the  Open  Method  of  Coordination  (OMC)  for  the 
sustainable development of EU Aquaculture.  

The  management  of  aquaculture  in  the  EU  is  a  shared  competence,  with  EU 
Member  States  having  greater  control  in  many  of  its  aspects.    However,  the 
challenges,  barriers  and  threats  that  face  EU  aquaculture  are  common  across 
many  countries.  EU  aquaculture  policy  is  developed  and  implemented  in  the 
framework  of  the  OMC  as  established  under  the  Common  Fisheries  Policy 
Regulation1.  It  is  a  non-legal,  voluntary  process  that  offers  the  possibility  for 
Member States to cooperate and direct their national policies towards common 
objectives.  

The interim evaluation of the OMC examines the period 2013 to 2017. It covers 
all the OMC tools and all Member States, except Luxembourg. 

The summary conclusions are:  

Effectiveness 

The  OMC  tools  have  contributed  to  improve  strategic  planning  and  created  a 
sense  of  common  goals  across  the  EU.  The  Strategic  Guidelines  have 
encouraged Member States to develop a comprehensive strategy specifically for 
aquaculture.  

The main hindering factors in the achievement of the priorities identified in the 
Strategic Guidelines are a result of the complexity of the regulatory framework 
for aquaculture activities.   

Efficiency  

It  has  not  been  possible  to  quantify  Member  States’  exact  costs  of  engaging 
with the OMC, but Member States consider that the costs are at an acceptable 
level.  

There  are  some  efficiency  gains  possible  in  the  application  of  the  different 
OMC  tools.  Resources  should  be  increased  to  strengthen  communication  and 
collaboration at the regional level.  

Some  Member  States  indicated  that  the  guidelines  on  EU  legislation  could  be 
made simpler and more understandable and be better disseminated.   

1 Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 – Article 34 

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Coherence 

There is no evidence of any major inconsistencies in EU policy texts concerning 
environment,  food  safety,  animal  health  and  welfare,  research  and  innovation 
and  the  OMC.  Much  of the  current  policy  directives  and funding  mechanisms 
are  aligned  with  the  Commission’s  "Europe  2020  Strategy”2,  and  with  the 
synchronisation of public funding through the EU cohesion mechanism.   

Relevance 

Simplifying  administrative  procedures  is  still  highly  relevant.  Coordinated 
spatial  planning  of  aquaculture  is  becoming  increasingly  relevant.  Enhanced 
competitiveness  of  EU  aquaculture  is  still  as  relevant  as  before  with  the 
continued growth of low-cost aquaculture outside of the EU.  

There are emerging challenges that may need a greater strategic focus.   

The  Strategic  Guidelines  need  to  be  revisited.  Although  still  largely  relevant, 
the latest  challenges and  opportunities  for  aquaculture should  be  included  and 
the priorities should be re-evaluated.    

The majority of the OMC tools are still useful and relevant. However, there are 
demands for the OMC to have a greater regional focus.    

EU Added-Value  

The OMC has ensured that Member States are  more aligned with EU policies 
and objectives. 

The  OMC  has  given  the  European  Commission  a  much  more  in-depth 
understanding of the evolution of the aquaculture sector at Member State level.  

The  underlying  needs  of  the  aquaculture  sector  addressed  by  the  OMC  still 
require EU action.  

2 COM(2010)2020. Communication from the Commission “EUROPE 2020  - A strategy for smart, sustainable 

and inclusive growth” 

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