Article 40 Protection and restoration of marine biodiversity and ecosystems and compensation regimes in the framework of sustainable fishing activities
1. In order to protect and restore marine biodiversity and ecosystems in the framework of sustainable fishing activities, with the participation, where relevant, of fishermen, the EMFF may support the following operations: (a) the collection of waste by fishermen from the sea such as the removal of lost fishing gear and marine litter; (b) the construction, installation or modernisation of static or movable facilities intended to protect and enhance marine fauna and flora, including their scientific preparation and evaluation; (c) contributions to a better management or conservation of marine biological resources; (d) the preparation, including studies, drawing-up, monitoring and updating of protection and management plans for fishery-related activities relating to NATURA 2000 sites and spatial protection measures referred to in Directive 2008/56/EC and relating to other special habitats; (e) the management, restoration and monitoring of NATURA 2000 sites in accordance with Directives 92/43/EEC and 2009/147/EC, in accordance with prioritised action frameworks established pursuant to Directive 92/43/EEC; (f) the management, restoration and monitoring of marine protected areas with a view to the implementation of the spatial protection measures referred to in Article 13(4) of Directive 2008/56/EC; (g) increasing environmental awareness, involving fishermen, with regard to the protection and restoration of marine biodiversity; (h) schemes for compensation for damage to catches caused by mammals and birds protected by Directives 92/43/EEC and 2009/147/EC; (i) the participation in other actions aimed at maintaining and enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem services, such as the restoration of specific marine and coastal habitats in support of sustainable fish stocks, including their scientific preparation and evaluation. 2. Support under point (h) of paragraph 1 shall be subject to the formal recognition of such schemes by the competent authorities of the Member States. Member States shall also ensure that no overcompensation for damage occurs as a result of the combination of Union, national and private compensation schemes. 3. The operations referred to in this Article may be implemented by scientific or technical public law bodies, Advisory Councils, fishermen or organisations of fishermen which are recognised by the Member State, or by non-governmental organisations in partnership with organisations of fishermen or in partnership with FLAGs. 4. The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts, in accordance with Article 126, specifying the costs which are eligible for support under paragraph 1 of this Article.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The military aggression of Russia against Ukraine since 24 February 2022 is impacting on operators of the fishery and aquaculture sector in the Union. The disruption of trade flows of key commodities for the fishery and aquaculture sector from Russia and Ukraine abruptly intensified the increase in prices of key inputs such as energy and raw materials. Trade between Ukraine and the Union is also severely affected by the unavailability of transport, as Ukrainian airports were rendered inoperable because of the Russian attack and all commercial shipping operations in Ukrainian ports have been suspended. The current crisis is likely to have serious consequences for the supply of grain, vegetable oils and white fish from Ukraine and Russia to the Union, leading to a substantial increase in fish feed prices and to shortages of key raw materials. Part of the Union fleet has ceased fishing because of the decrease in profitability of that activity and the impossibility of offsetting the increase in input costs such as soaring prices for energy. The combined impact of the cost increases and shortages is also being felt by the seafood farming and processing sectors. There is therefore significant market disruption, caused by substantial cost increases, and trade disruptions, requiring effective and efficient action.The military aggression of Russia against Ukraine also jeopardises the security of fishing activities carried out by Union fishers in neighbouring areas. This has led to a precautionary interruption of activities in certain areas. In the light of the above, the Commission is proposing an amendment to Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) by introducing specific measures to alleviate the consequences of the military aggression of Russia against Ukraine on fishing activities and to mitigate the effects of the market disruption caused by that military aggression on the supply chain of fishery and aquaculture products. Expenditure is still eligible for a contribution from that Fund until 31 December 2023. This proposal complements Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/500 of 25 March 2022 establishing the military aggression of Russia against Ukraine as the occurrence of an exceptional event causing a significant disruption of markets, thereby triggering crisis support measures under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). Packages of measures under both the EMFF and the EMFAF maximise the use of available financial resources to support the fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing sectors in the current crisis. 
Revised version (Article 40 Protection and restoration of marine biodiversity and ecosystems and compensation regimes in the framework of sustainable fishing activities):
2. Support under point (h) of paragraph 1 shall be subject to the formal recognition of such schemes by the competent authorities of the Member States. Member States shall also ensure that no overcompensation for damage occurs as a result of the combination of Union, national and private compensation schemes. 3. The operations referred to in this Article may be implemented by scientific or technical public law bodies, Advisory Councils, fishermen or organisations of fishermen which are recognised by the Member State, or by non-governmental organisations in partnership with organisations of fishermen or in partnership with FLAGs. 4. The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts, in accordance with Article 126, specifying the costs which are eligible for support under paragraph 1 of this Article.
Article 41 Energy efficiency and mitigation of climate change
1. In order to mitigate the effects of climate change and to improve the energy efficiency of fishing vessels, the EMFF may support: (a) investments in equipment or on board aimed at reducing the emission of pollutants or greenhouse gases and increasing the energy efficiency of fishing vessels. Investments in fishing gear are also eligible provided that they do not undermine the selectivity of that fishing gear; (b) energy efficiency audits and schemes; (c) studies to assess the contribution of alternative propulsion systems and hull designs to the energy efficiency of fishing vessels. 2. Support for the replacement or modernisation of main or ancillary engines may be granted only: (a) for vessels up to 12 metres in overall length, provided that the new or modernised engine does not have more power in kW than the current engine; (b) for vessels between 12 and 18 metres in overall length, provided that the power in kW of the new or modernised engine is at least 20 % lower than that of the current engine; (c) for vessels between 18 and 24 metres in overall length, provided that the power in kW of the new or modernised engine is at least 30 % lower than that of the current engine. 3. Support under paragraph 2 for the replacement or modernisation of main or ancillary engines may only be granted in respect of vessels belonging to a fleet segment for which the report on fishing capacity, referred to in Article 22(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, has shown a balance with the fishing opportunities available to that segment. 4. Support under paragraph 2 of this Article shall only be granted for the replacement or modernisation of main or ancillary engines which have been officially certified in accordance with Article 40(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. It shall only be paid after any required reduction of capacity in kW has been permanently removed from the Union fishing fleet register. 5. For fishing vessels not subject to a certification of engine power, support under paragraph 2 of this Article shall only be granted for the replacement or modernisation of main or ancillary engines in respect of which the consistency of engine power has been verified in accordance with Article 41 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 and which have been physically inspected to ensure that the engine power does not exceed the engine power established in the fishing licenses. 6. The reduction of engine power referred to in points(b) and (c) of paragraph 2 may be achieved by a group of vessels for each category of vessel referred to in those points. 7. Without prejudice to Article 25(3), support from the EMFF under paragraph 2 of this Article shall not exceed the higher of the following two thresholds: (a) EUR 1 500 000 ; or (b) 3 % of the Union financial support allocated by the Member State to the Union priorities set out in Article 6(1), (2) and (5). 8. Applications made by operators from the small–scale coastal fishing sector shall be treated as a priority up to 60 % of the total support allocated for the replacement or modernisation of main or ancillary engines referred to in paragraph 2 over the entire programming period. 9. Support under paragraphs 1 and 2 shall only be granted to owners of fishing vessels and shall not be granted more than once for the same type of investment during the programming period for the same fishing vessel. 10. The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts, in accordance with Article 126, specifying the costs which are eligible for support under point (a) of paragraph 1 of this Article.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The ecosystem in the Baltic Sea has been in a fragile state for decades. However, it was only in 2019 that scientists warned that the environmental conditions have a much more important impact on Eastern Baltic Cod than previously estimated. This situation is now causing a steep decline of Eastern Baltic cod. The situation is moreover unprecedented as the Eastern Baltic cod stock is the only stock in European waters for which ICES assesses natural mortality from environmental pressures to be about three times higher than fishing mortality. No other fish stock in European waters is in such a situation. The Eastern Baltic cod stock is not expected to recover before 2024, even with no fishing at all. Therefore given the above situation, this year, acting upon the best available scientific advice and in accordance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy and the Multiannual Plan for the Baltic Sea (hereafter “Baltic MAP”), the Commission adopted first emergency measures in July 2019 prohibiting the fishing of Eastern Baltic cod until year-end; and secondly, the Council decided in October 2019 on necessary and unprecedented fishing restrictions for 2020. However, a recovery can nevertheless not be expected for several years. These exceptional measures will therefore lead to redundant fleet capacities and to severe adverse socio-economic consequences for the related coastal communities and fishing businesses. The fisheries sector is a key component of the economic life of many coastal regions in the Baltic Sea. However, the quota uptake for Eastern Baltic cod has been relatively low (below 60%) for many years; in 2018 the uptake was only 40% and even lower in 2019 up until mid-July when the Commission’s emergency measures kicked in (19%). The relatively low quota uptake already in 2018 may well have been a first sign of the bad environmental situation and the high impact it has on Eastern Baltic cod. Commission analysis shows that the fleet segments with the highest dependency on Eastern Baltic cod encompass more than 300 vessels, mainly trawlers and netters in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, and to a lesser extent Denmark. Of these, only a minority seem resilient enough to survive a short-term – but not a medium or long-term – closure. The rest either suffer already from a poor situation that will be worsened by the closure or will see their profitability completely erode. These fleet segments are of significant socioeconomic importance, representing between roughly 20% and 50% of the respective national fleet in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, expressed in full-time equivalents. Given the total closure of any directed fishery for Eastern Baltic cod and the strong reductions agreed for other Baltic stocks by the Council on 14-15 October 2019, the vessels and fleet segments most heavily impacted by the closure of the targeted Eastern Baltic cod fishery will not all be able to redirect their fishing activities to other species. The closure will have a substantial impact for the Eastern Baltic cod fleets, with a strong negative impact in certain regions and coastal communities. Based on this and taking into account on-going contacts with the Member States on the significant negative impact of this situation on the fisheries sector and the fact that stakeholders cannot themselves mitigate the adverse consequences, the Commission concluded that contingency measures are necessary for the fisheries sector. The contingency measures consist in introducing a capacity ceiling for the Member States in the Baltic Sea whose fleets are affected by the adverse situation for Eastern Baltic cod and a capacity exit regime for fleets formerly fishing on Eastern Baltic cod. The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (hereafter “EMFF”) established by Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council is the fund for the EU’s maritime and fisheries policies for 2014-2020. 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; support coastal communities in diversifying their economies and finances projects that create new jobs and improve quality of life along European coasts. This fund should hence provide the possibility to the Member States affected by the exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod to grant financial support for achieving and maintaining a balance between the fleet capacity and the fishing opportunities by making financial support for permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping eligible under the EMFF 2014-2020. This support was granted until end of 2017 (and has been recently introduced for the multiannual plan in the western Mediterranean Sea). Introducing decommissioning in the form of scrapping again is an unforeseen measure in response to an exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod. The fund should therefore provide for additional flexibility in this exceptional situation by allowing the same Member States to redirect available appropriations for storage aid and Integrated Maritime Policy inside the financial envelope of each Member State to the permanent cessation of fishing activities with a view to reinforce the need to scrap vessels, while at the same time not negatively impacting the achievements of other CFP objectives and the implementation of the EMFF. This proposal hence aims at the sustainable management of Baltic Sea fish stocks by reducing redundant fleet capacities in the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. Moreover, the Member States and the Commission share the view that urgent action is needed to tackle the root causes of that critical environmental and social situation. This implies addressing with an increased determination the key environmental pressures in the Baltic Sea area that are preventing a recovery of Eastern Baltic cod, and to reduce the structural imbalance in the fleet capacity of fleets formerly targeting Eastern Baltic cod. This proposal therefore introduces the possibility to provide public support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping for fishermen and operators that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod and who are affected by the closure of the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. In order to ensure the consistency of fleet structural adaptation in the Baltic Sea with the conservation objectives laid down in the Multiannual Management Plan, support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through the scrapping of fishing vessels that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod should be strictly conditional and linked to the achievement of the adjustment targets and tools defined in the action plans for imbalanced segments. Finally, additional control measures should be introduced and the collection of relevant data improved. 
Revised version (Article 41 Energy efficiency and mitigation of climate change):
In order to mitigate the effects of climate change and to improve the energy efficiency of fishing vessels, the EMFF may support: (a) investments in equipment or on board aimed at reducing the emission of pollutants or greenhouse gases and increasing the energy efficiency of fishing vessels. Investments in fishing gear are also eligible provided that they do not undermine the selectivity of that fishing gear; (b) energy efficiency audits and schemes; (c) studies to assess the contribution of alternative propulsion systems and hull designs to the energy efficiency of fishing vessels. 2. Support for the replacement or modernisation of main or ancillary engines may be granted only: (a) for vessels up to 12 metres in overall length, provided that the new or modernised engine does not have more power in kW than the current engine; (b) for vessels between 12 and 18 metres in overall length, provided that the power in kW of the new or modernised engine is at least 20 % lower than that of the current engine; (c) for vessels between 18 and 24 metres in overall length, provided that the power in kW of the new or modernised engine is at least 30 % lower than that of the current engine. 3. Support under paragraph 2 for the replacement or modernisation of main or ancillary engines may only be granted in respect of vessels belonging to a fleet segment for which the report on fishing capacity, referred to in Article 22(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, has shown a balance with the fishing opportunities available to that segment. 4. Support under paragraph 2 of this Article shall only be granted for the replacement or modernisation of main or ancillary engines which have been officially certified in accordance with Article 40(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. It shall only be paid after any required reduction of capacity in kW has been permanently removed from the Union fishing fleet register. 5. For fishing vessels not subject to a certification of engine power, support under paragraph 2 of this Article shall only be granted for the replacement or modernisation of main or ancillary engines in respect of which the consistency of engine power has been verified in accordance with Article 41 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 and which have been physically inspected to ensure that the engine power does not exceed the engine power established in the fishing licenses. 6. The reduction of engine power referred to in points(b) and (c) of paragraph 2 may be achieved by a group of vessels for each category of vessel referred to in those points. 7. Without prejudice to Article 25(3), support from the EMFF under paragraph 2 of this Article shall not exceed the higher of the following two thresholds: (a) EUR 1 500 000 ; or (b) 3 % of the Union financial support allocated by the Member State to the Union priorities set out in Article 6(1), (2) and (5). 3 % of the Union financial support allocated by the Member State to the Union priorities set out in Article 6(1), (2) and (5). 8. Applications made by operators from the small–scale coastal fishing sector shall be treated as a priority up to 60 % of the total support allocated for the replacement or modernisation of main or ancillary engines referred to in paragraph 2 over the entire programming period. 9. Support under paragraphs 1 and 2 shall only be granted to owners of fishing vessels and shall not be granted more than once for the same type of investment during the programming period for the same fishing vessel. 10. The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts, in accordance with Article 126, specifying the costs which are eligible for support under point (a) of paragraph 1 of this Article.
Article 42 Added value, product quality and use of unwanted catches
1. In order to improve the added value or quality of the fish caught, the EMFF may support: (a) investments that add value to fishery products, in particular by allowing fishermen to carry out the processing, marketing and direct sale of their own catches; (b) innovative investments on board that improve the quality of the fishery products. 2. The support referred to in point (b) of paragraph 1 shall be conditional on the use of selective gears to minimise unwanted catches and shall only be granted to owners of Union fishing vessels that have carried out a fishing activity at sea for at least 60 days during the two calendar years preceding the date of submission of the application for support.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The ecosystem in the Baltic Sea has been in a fragile state for decades. However, it was only in 2019 that scientists warned that the environmental conditions have a much more important impact on Eastern Baltic Cod than previously estimated. This situation is now causing a steep decline of Eastern Baltic cod. The situation is moreover unprecedented as the Eastern Baltic cod stock is the only stock in European waters for which ICES assesses natural mortality from environmental pressures to be about three times higher than fishing mortality. No other fish stock in European waters is in such a situation. The Eastern Baltic cod stock is not expected to recover before 2024, even with no fishing at all. Therefore given the above situation, this year, acting upon the best available scientific advice and in accordance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy and the Multiannual Plan for the Baltic Sea (hereafter “Baltic MAP”), the Commission adopted first emergency measures in July 2019 prohibiting the fishing of Eastern Baltic cod until year-end; and secondly, the Council decided in October 2019 on necessary and unprecedented fishing restrictions for 2020. However, a recovery can nevertheless not be expected for several years. These exceptional measures will therefore lead to redundant fleet capacities and to severe adverse socio-economic consequences for the related coastal communities and fishing businesses. The fisheries sector is a key component of the economic life of many coastal regions in the Baltic Sea. However, the quota uptake for Eastern Baltic cod has been relatively low (below 60%) for many years; in 2018 the uptake was only 40% and even lower in 2019 up until mid-July when the Commission’s emergency measures kicked in (19%). The relatively low quota uptake already in 2018 may well have been a first sign of the bad environmental situation and the high impact it has on Eastern Baltic cod. Commission analysis shows that the fleet segments with the highest dependency on Eastern Baltic cod encompass more than 300 vessels, mainly trawlers and netters in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, and to a lesser extent Denmark. Of these, only a minority seem resilient enough to survive a short-term – but not a medium or long-term – closure. The rest either suffer already from a poor situation that will be worsened by the closure or will see their profitability completely erode. These fleet segments are of significant socioeconomic importance, representing between roughly 20% and 50% of the respective national fleet in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, expressed in full-time equivalents. Given the total closure of any directed fishery for Eastern Baltic cod and the strong reductions agreed for other Baltic stocks by the Council on 14-15 October 2019, the vessels and fleet segments most heavily impacted by the closure of the targeted Eastern Baltic cod fishery will not all be able to redirect their fishing activities to other species. The closure will have a substantial impact for the Eastern Baltic cod fleets, with a strong negative impact in certain regions and coastal communities. Based on this and taking into account on-going contacts with the Member States on the significant negative impact of this situation on the fisheries sector and the fact that stakeholders cannot themselves mitigate the adverse consequences, the Commission concluded that contingency measures are necessary for the fisheries sector. The contingency measures consist in introducing a capacity ceiling for the Member States in the Baltic Sea whose fleets are affected by the adverse situation for Eastern Baltic cod and a capacity exit regime for fleets formerly fishing on Eastern Baltic cod. The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (hereafter “EMFF”) established by Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council is the fund for the EU’s maritime and fisheries policies for 2014-2020. 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; support coastal communities in diversifying their economies and finances projects that create new jobs and improve quality of life along European coasts. This fund should hence provide the possibility to the Member States affected by the exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod to grant financial support for achieving and maintaining a balance between the fleet capacity and the fishing opportunities by making financial support for permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping eligible under the EMFF 2014-2020. This support was granted until end of 2017 (and has been recently introduced for the multiannual plan in the western Mediterranean Sea). Introducing decommissioning in the form of scrapping again is an unforeseen measure in response to an exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod. The fund should therefore provide for additional flexibility in this exceptional situation by allowing the same Member States to redirect available appropriations for storage aid and Integrated Maritime Policy inside the financial envelope of each Member State to the permanent cessation of fishing activities with a view to reinforce the need to scrap vessels, while at the same time not negatively impacting the achievements of other CFP objectives and the implementation of the EMFF. This proposal hence aims at the sustainable management of Baltic Sea fish stocks by reducing redundant fleet capacities in the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. Moreover, the Member States and the Commission share the view that urgent action is needed to tackle the root causes of that critical environmental and social situation. This implies addressing with an increased determination the key environmental pressures in the Baltic Sea area that are preventing a recovery of Eastern Baltic cod, and to reduce the structural imbalance in the fleet capacity of fleets formerly targeting Eastern Baltic cod. This proposal therefore introduces the possibility to provide public support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping for fishermen and operators that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod and who are affected by the closure of the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. In order to ensure the consistency of fleet structural adaptation in the Baltic Sea with the conservation objectives laid down in the Multiannual Management Plan, support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through the scrapping of fishing vessels that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod should be strictly conditional and linked to the achievement of the adjustment targets and tools defined in the action plans for imbalanced segments. Finally, additional control measures should be introduced and the collection of relevant data improved. 
Revised version (Article 42 Added value, product quality and use of unwanted catches):
1. In order to improve the added value or quality of the fish caught, the EMFF may support: (a) investments that add value to fishery products, in particular by allowing fishermen to carry out the processing, marketing and direct sale of their own catches; (b) innovative investments on board that improve the quality of the fishery products. In order to improve the added value or quality of the fish caught, the EMFF may support: (a) investments that add value to fishery products, in particular by allowing fishermen to carry out the processing, marketing and direct sale of their own catches; (b) innovative investments on board that improve the quality of the fishery products. 2. The support referred to in point (b) of paragraph 1 shall be conditional on the use of selective gears to minimise unwanted catches and shall only be granted to owners of Union fishing vessels that have carried out a fishing activity at sea for at least 60 days during the two calendar years preceding the date of submission of the application for support.
Article 43 Fishing ports, landing sites, auction halls and shelters
1. For the purpose of increasing the quality, control and traceability of the products landed, increasing energy efficiency, contributing to environmental protection and improving safety and working conditions, the EMFF may support investments improving the infrastructure of fishing ports, auctions halls, landing sites and shelters, including investments in facilities for waste and marine litter collection. 2. In order to facilitate compliance with the obligation to land all catches in accordance with Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 and Article 8(2)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013, as well as to add value to under-used components of the catch, the EMFF may support investments in fishing ports, auction halls, landing sites and shelters. 3. In order to improve the safety of fishermen, the EMFF may support investments in the construction or modernisation of shelters. 4. Support shall not cover the construction of new ports, new landing sites or new auction halls.
Article 44 Inland fishing and inland aquatic fauna and flora
1. In order to reduce the impact of inland fishing on the environment, to increase energy efficiency, to increase the value or quality of fish landed, or to improve health, safety, working conditions, human capital and training, the EMFF may support investments in the following: (a) the promotion of human capital, job creation and social dialogue as referred to in Article 29 and under the conditions set out in that Article; (b) on board or in individual equipment as referred to in Article 32 and under the conditions set out in that Article; (c) in equipment and types of operations as referred to in Articles 38 and 39 and under the conditions set out in those Articles; (d) the improvement of energy efficiency and the mitigation of the effects of climate change as referred to in Article 41 and under the conditions set out in that Article; (e) the improvement of the value or quality of the fish caught as referred to in Article 42 and under the conditions set out in that Article. (f) in fishing ports, shelters and landing sites as referred to in Article 43 and under the conditions set out in that Article; 2. The EMFF may provide support for investments relating to business start-ups for young fishermen as referred to in Article 31 and under the same conditions as set out in that Article, except for the requirement under points (b) and (d) of paragraph 2 of that Article. 3. The EMFF may provide support for the development and facilitation of innovation in accordance with Article 26, for the advisory services in accordance with Article 27 and for partnerships between scientists and fishermen in accordance with Article 28. 4. In order to promote diversification by inland fishermen, the EMFF may support the diversification of inland fishing activities to complementary activities under the conditions laid down in Article 30. 5. For the purposes of paragraph 1: (a) references made in Articles 30, 32, 38, 39, 41 and 42 to fishing vessels shall be understood as references to vessels operating exclusively in inland waters; (b) references made in Article 38 to the marine environment shall be understood as references to the environment in which the inland fishing vessel operates. 6. In order to protect and develop aquatic fauna and flora, the EMFF may support: (a) the management, restoration and monitoring of NATURA 2000 sites which are affected by fishing activities, and the rehabilitation of inland waters in accordance with Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 12 ), including spawning grounds and migration routes for migratory species, without prejudice to point (e) of Article 40(1) of this Regulation and, where relevant, with the participation of inland fishermen; (b) the construction, modernisation or installation of static or movable facilities intended to protect and enhance aquatic fauna and flora, including their scientific preparation, monitoring and evaluation. 7. Member States shall ensure that vessels receiving support under this Article continue to operate exclusively in inland waters.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The ecosystem in the Baltic Sea has been in a fragile state for decades. However, it was only in 2019 that scientists warned that the environmental conditions have a much more important impact on Eastern Baltic Cod than previously estimated. This situation is now causing a steep decline of Eastern Baltic cod. The situation is moreover unprecedented as the Eastern Baltic cod stock is the only stock in European waters for which ICES assesses natural mortality from environmental pressures to be about three times higher than fishing mortality. No other fish stock in European waters is in such a situation. The Eastern Baltic cod stock is not expected to recover before 2024, even with no fishing at all. Therefore given the above situation, this year, acting upon the best available scientific advice and in accordance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy and the Multiannual Plan for the Baltic Sea (hereafter “Baltic MAP”), the Commission adopted first emergency measures in July 2019 prohibiting the fishing of Eastern Baltic cod until year-end; and secondly, the Council decided in October 2019 on necessary and unprecedented fishing restrictions for 2020. However, a recovery can nevertheless not be expected for several years. These exceptional measures will therefore lead to redundant fleet capacities and to severe adverse socio-economic consequences for the related coastal communities and fishing businesses. The fisheries sector is a key component of the economic life of many coastal regions in the Baltic Sea. However, the quota uptake for Eastern Baltic cod has been relatively low (below 60%) for many years; in 2018 the uptake was only 40% and even lower in 2019 up until mid-July when the Commission’s emergency measures kicked in (19%). The relatively low quota uptake already in 2018 may well have been a first sign of the bad environmental situation and the high impact it has on Eastern Baltic cod. Commission analysis shows that the fleet segments with the highest dependency on Eastern Baltic cod encompass more than 300 vessels, mainly trawlers and netters in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, and to a lesser extent Denmark. Of these, only a minority seem resilient enough to survive a short-term – but not a medium or long-term – closure. The rest either suffer already from a poor situation that will be worsened by the closure or will see their profitability completely erode. These fleet segments are of significant socioeconomic importance, representing between roughly 20% and 50% of the respective national fleet in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, expressed in full-time equivalents. Given the total closure of any directed fishery for Eastern Baltic cod and the strong reductions agreed for other Baltic stocks by the Council on 14-15 October 2019, the vessels and fleet segments most heavily impacted by the closure of the targeted Eastern Baltic cod fishery will not all be able to redirect their fishing activities to other species. The closure will have a substantial impact for the Eastern Baltic cod fleets, with a strong negative impact in certain regions and coastal communities. Based on this and taking into account on-going contacts with the Member States on the significant negative impact of this situation on the fisheries sector and the fact that stakeholders cannot themselves mitigate the adverse consequences, the Commission concluded that contingency measures are necessary for the fisheries sector. The contingency measures consist in introducing a capacity ceiling for the Member States in the Baltic Sea whose fleets are affected by the adverse situation for Eastern Baltic cod and a capacity exit regime for fleets formerly fishing on Eastern Baltic cod. The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (hereafter “EMFF”) established by Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council is the fund for the EU’s maritime and fisheries policies for 2014-2020. 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; support coastal communities in diversifying their economies and finances projects that create new jobs and improve quality of life along European coasts. This fund should hence provide the possibility to the Member States affected by the exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod to grant financial support for achieving and maintaining a balance between the fleet capacity and the fishing opportunities by making financial support for permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping eligible under the EMFF 2014-2020. This support was granted until end of 2017 (and has been recently introduced for the multiannual plan in the western Mediterranean Sea). Introducing decommissioning in the form of scrapping again is an unforeseen measure in response to an exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod. The fund should therefore provide for additional flexibility in this exceptional situation by allowing the same Member States to redirect available appropriations for storage aid and Integrated Maritime Policy inside the financial envelope of each Member State to the permanent cessation of fishing activities with a view to reinforce the need to scrap vessels, while at the same time not negatively impacting the achievements of other CFP objectives and the implementation of the EMFF. This proposal hence aims at the sustainable management of Baltic Sea fish stocks by reducing redundant fleet capacities in the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. Moreover, the Member States and the Commission share the view that urgent action is needed to tackle the root causes of that critical environmental and social situation. This implies addressing with an increased determination the key environmental pressures in the Baltic Sea area that are preventing a recovery of Eastern Baltic cod, and to reduce the structural imbalance in the fleet capacity of fleets formerly targeting Eastern Baltic cod. This proposal therefore introduces the possibility to provide public support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping for fishermen and operators that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod and who are affected by the closure of the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. In order to ensure the consistency of fleet structural adaptation in the Baltic Sea with the conservation objectives laid down in the Multiannual Management Plan, support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through the scrapping of fishing vessels that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod should be strictly conditional and linked to the achievement of the adjustment targets and tools defined in the action plans for imbalanced segments. Finally, additional control measures should be introduced and the collection of relevant data improved. 
Revised version (Article 44 Inland fishing and inland aquatic fauna and flora):
In order to reduce the impact of inland fishing on the environment, to increase energy efficiency, to increase the value or quality of fish landed, or to improve health, safety, working conditions, human capital and training, the EMFF may support investments in the following: (a) the promotion of human capital, job creation and social dialogue as referred to in Article 29 and under the conditions set out in that Article; (b) on board or in individual equipment as referred to in Article 32 and under the conditions set out in that Article; (c) in equipment and types of operations as referred to in Articles 38 and 39 and under the conditions set out in those Articles; (d) the improvement of energy efficiency and the mitigation of the effects of climate change as referred to in Article 41 and under the conditions set out in that Article; (e) the improvement of the value or quality of the fish caught as referred to in Article 42 and under the conditions set out in that Article. (f) in fishing ports, shelters and landing sites as referred to in Article 43 and under the conditions set out in that Article; 2. The EMFF may provide support for investments relating to business start-ups for young fishermen as referred to in Article 31 and under the same conditions as set out in that Article, except for the requirement under points (b) and (d) of paragraph 2 of that Article. 3. The EMFF may provide support for the development and facilitation of innovation in accordance with Article 26, for the advisory services in accordance with Article 27 and for partnerships between scientists and fishermen in accordance with Article 28. 4. In order to promote diversification by inland fishermen, the EMFF may support the diversification of inland fishing activities to complementary activities under the conditions laid down in Article 30. 4a. The EMFF may support measures for temporary cessation of fishing activities caused by the COVID‐19 outbreak, as provided for in point (d) of Article 33(1), under the conditions laid down in Article 33. 5. For the purposes of paragraphs 1 and 4a: (a) references made in Articles 30, 32, 33, 38, 39, 41 and 42 to fishing vessels shall be understood as references to vessels operating exclusively in inland waters; (b) references made in Article 38 to the marine environment shall be understood as references to the environment in which the inland fishing vessel operates. For the purposes of paragraphs 1 and 4a: (a) references made in Articles 30, 32, 33, 38, 39, 41 and 42 to fishing vessels shall be understood as references to vessels operating exclusively in inland waters; (b) references made in Article 38 to the marine environment shall be understood as references to the environment in which the inland fishing vessel operates. In order to protect and develop aquatic fauna and flora, the EMFF may support: the management, restoration and monitoring of NATURA 2000 sites which are affected by fishing activities, and the rehabilitation of inland waters in accordance with Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 14 ), including spawning grounds and migration routes for migratory species, without prejudice to point (e) of Article 40(1) of this Regulation and, where relevant, with the participation of inland fishermen; (b) the construction, modernisation or installation of static or movable facilities intended to protect and enhance aquatic fauna and flora, including their scientific preparation, monitoring and evaluation. 7. Member States shall ensure that vessels receiving support under this Article continue to operate exclusively in inland waters.
Article 45 Specific objectives
Support under this Chapter shall contribute to the achievement of the specific objectives under the Union priority set out in Article 6(2).
Article 46 General conditions
1. Support under this Chapter shall be limited to aquaculture enterprises, unless otherwise stated in this Regulation. 2. For the purposes of this Article, entrepreneurs entering the sector shall provide a business plan and, where the amount of investments is more than EUR 50 000 , a feasibility study including an environmental assessment of the operations. Support under this Chapter shall be granted only where it has been clearly demonstrated in an independent marketing report that good and sustainable market prospects exist for the product. 3. Where operations consist of investments in equipment or infrastructure ensuring compliance with future requirements relating to the environment, human or animal health, hygiene or animal welfare under Union law, support may be granted until the date on which such requirements become mandatory for the enterprises. 4. Support shall not be granted to the farming of genetically modified organisms. 5. Support shall not be granted to aquaculture operations in marine protected areas, if it has been determined by the competent authority of the Member State, on the basis of an environmental impact assessment, that the operation would generate significant negative environmental impact that cannot be adequately mitigated.
Article 47 Innovation
1. In order to stimulate innovation in aquaculture, the EMFF may support operations aiming at: (a) developing technical, scientific or organisational knowledge in aquaculture farms, which, in particular, reduces the impact on the environment, reduces dependence on fish meal and oil, fosters a sustainable use of resources in aquaculture, improves animal welfare or facilitates new sustainable production methods; (b) developing or introducing on the market new aquaculture species with good market potential, new or substantially improved products, new or improved processes, or new or improved management and organisation systems; (c) exploring the technical or economic feasibility of innovative products or processes. 2. Operations under this Article shall be carried out by, or in collaboration with, public or private scientific or technical bodies, recognised by the Member State, which shall validate the results of such operations. 3. The results of operations receiving support shall be adequately publicised by the Member State in accordance with Article 119.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The military aggression of Russia against Ukraine since 24 February 2022 is impacting on operators of the fishery and aquaculture sector in the Union. The disruption of trade flows of key commodities for the fishery and aquaculture sector from Russia and Ukraine abruptly intensified the increase in prices of key inputs such as energy and raw materials. Trade between Ukraine and the Union is also severely affected by the unavailability of transport, as Ukrainian airports were rendered inoperable because of the Russian attack and all commercial shipping operations in Ukrainian ports have been suspended. The current crisis is likely to have serious consequences for the supply of grain, vegetable oils and white fish from Ukraine and Russia to the Union, leading to a substantial increase in fish feed prices and to shortages of key raw materials. Part of the Union fleet has ceased fishing because of the decrease in profitability of that activity and the impossibility of offsetting the increase in input costs such as soaring prices for energy. The combined impact of the cost increases and shortages is also being felt by the seafood farming and processing sectors. There is therefore significant market disruption, caused by substantial cost increases, and trade disruptions, requiring effective and efficient action.The military aggression of Russia against Ukraine also jeopardises the security of fishing activities carried out by Union fishers in neighbouring areas. This has led to a precautionary interruption of activities in certain areas. In the light of the above, the Commission is proposing an amendment to Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) by introducing specific measures to alleviate the consequences of the military aggression of Russia against Ukraine on fishing activities and to mitigate the effects of the market disruption caused by that military aggression on the supply chain of fishery and aquaculture products. Expenditure is still eligible for a contribution from that Fund until 31 December 2023. This proposal complements Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/500 of 25 March 2022 establishing the military aggression of Russia against Ukraine as the occurrence of an exceptional event causing a significant disruption of markets, thereby triggering crisis support measures under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). Packages of measures under both the EMFF and the EMFAF maximise the use of available financial resources to support the fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing sectors in the current crisis. 
Revised version (Article 47 Innovation):
2. Operations under this Article shall be carried out by, or in collaboration with, public or private scientific or technical bodies, recognised by the Member State, which shall validate the results of such operations. 3. The results of operations receiving support shall be adequately publicised by the Member State in accordance with Article 119.
Article 48 Productive investments in aquaculture
1. The EMFF may support: (a) productive investments in aquaculture; (b) the diversification of aquaculture production and species cultured; (c) the modernisation of aquaculture units, including the improvement in working and safety conditions of aquaculture workers; (d) improvements and modernisation related to animal health and welfare, including the purchase of equipment aiming at protecting the farms from wild predators; (e) investments reducing the negative impact or enhancing the positive effects on the environment and increasing resource efficiency; (f) investments in enhancing the quality of, or in adding value to, aquaculture products; (g) the restoration of existing aquaculture ponds or lagoons through the removal of silt, or investments aimed at the prevention of silt deposits; (h) the diversification of the income of aquaculture enterprises through the development of complementary activities; (i) investments resulting in a substantial reduction in the impact of aquaculture enterprises on water usage and quality, in particular through reducing the amount of water or chemicals, antibiotics and other medicines used, or through improving the output water quality, including through the deployment of multi–trophic aquaculture systems; (j) the promotion of closed aquaculture systems where aquaculture products are farmed in closed recirculation systems, thereby minimising water use; (k) investments increasing energy efficiency and promoting the conversion of aquaculture enterprises to renewable sources of energy. 2. Support under point (h) of paragraph 1 shall only be granted to aquaculture enterprises if the complementary activities relate to the core aquaculture business of the enterprise, including angling tourism, environmental services related to aquaculture or educational activities concerning aquaculture. 3. Support under paragraph 1 may be granted for the increase in production and/or modernisation of existing aquaculture enterprises, or for the construction of new ones, provided that the development is consistent with the multiannual national strategic plan for the development of aquaculture referred to in Article 34 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The military aggression of Russia against Ukraine since 24 February 2022 is impacting on operators of the fishery and aquaculture sector in the Union. The disruption of trade flows of key commodities for the fishery and aquaculture sector from Russia and Ukraine abruptly intensified the increase in prices of key inputs such as energy and raw materials. Trade between Ukraine and the Union is also severely affected by the unavailability of transport, as Ukrainian airports were rendered inoperable because of the Russian attack and all commercial shipping operations in Ukrainian ports have been suspended. The current crisis is likely to have serious consequences for the supply of grain, vegetable oils and white fish from Ukraine and Russia to the Union, leading to a substantial increase in fish feed prices and to shortages of key raw materials. Part of the Union fleet has ceased fishing because of the decrease in profitability of that activity and the impossibility of offsetting the increase in input costs such as soaring prices for energy. The combined impact of the cost increases and shortages is also being felt by the seafood farming and processing sectors. There is therefore significant market disruption, caused by substantial cost increases, and trade disruptions, requiring effective and efficient action.The military aggression of Russia against Ukraine also jeopardises the security of fishing activities carried out by Union fishers in neighbouring areas. This has led to a precautionary interruption of activities in certain areas. In the light of the above, the Commission is proposing an amendment to Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) by introducing specific measures to alleviate the consequences of the military aggression of Russia against Ukraine on fishing activities and to mitigate the effects of the market disruption caused by that military aggression on the supply chain of fishery and aquaculture products. Expenditure is still eligible for a contribution from that Fund until 31 December 2023. This proposal complements Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/500 of 25 March 2022 establishing the military aggression of Russia against Ukraine as the occurrence of an exceptional event causing a significant disruption of markets, thereby triggering crisis support measures under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). Packages of measures under both the EMFF and the EMFAF maximise the use of available financial resources to support the fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing sectors in the current crisis. 
Revised version (Article 48 Productive investments in aquaculture):
2. Support under point (h) of paragraph 1 shall only be granted to aquaculture enterprises if the complementary activities relate to the core aquaculture business of the enterprise, including angling tourism, environmental services related to aquaculture or educational activities concerning aquaculture. 3. Support under paragraph 1 may be granted for the increase in production and/or modernisation of existing aquaculture enterprises, or for the construction of new ones, provided that the development is consistent with the multiannual national strategic plan for the development of aquaculture referred to in Article 34 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013.
Article 49 Management, relief and advisory services for aquaculture farms
1. In order to improve the overall performance and competitiveness of aquaculture farms, and to reduce the negative environmental impact of their operations, the EMFF may support: (a) the setting-up of management, relief and advisory services for aquaculture farms; (b) the purchase of farm advisory services of a technical, scientific, legal, environmental or economic nature. 2. Advisory services referred to in point (b) of paragraph 1 shall cover: (a) the management needs to enable aquaculture farms to comply with Union and national environmental legislation, as well as with maritime spatial planning requirements; (b) environmental impact assessment as referred to in Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 13 ) and Directive 92/43/EEC; (c) the management needs to enable aquaculture farms to comply with Union and national aquatic animal health and welfare or public health legislation; (d) health and safety standards based on Union and national legislation; (e) marketing and business strategies. 3. The advisory services referred to in point (b) of paragraph 1 shall be provided by scientific or technical bodies, as well as by entities providing legal or economic advice with the required competences as recognised by the Member State. 4. Support under point (a) of paragraph 1 shall only be granted to public law bodies or other entities selected by the Member State to set up the farm advisory services. Support under point (b) of paragraph 1 shall only be granted to aquaculture SMEs or aquaculture organisations, including aquaculture producer organisations and associations of aquaculture producer organisations. 5. Where the support does not exceed EUR 4 000 , the beneficiary may be selected by means of an accelerated procedure. 6. Beneficiaries shall not receive support more than once per year for each category of advisory services referred to in paragraph 2.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The ecosystem in the Baltic Sea has been in a fragile state for decades. However, it was only in 2019 that scientists warned that the environmental conditions have a much more important impact on Eastern Baltic Cod than previously estimated. This situation is now causing a steep decline of Eastern Baltic cod. The situation is moreover unprecedented as the Eastern Baltic cod stock is the only stock in European waters for which ICES assesses natural mortality from environmental pressures to be about three times higher than fishing mortality. No other fish stock in European waters is in such a situation. The Eastern Baltic cod stock is not expected to recover before 2024, even with no fishing at all. Therefore given the above situation, this year, acting upon the best available scientific advice and in accordance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy and the Multiannual Plan for the Baltic Sea (hereafter “Baltic MAP”), the Commission adopted first emergency measures in July 2019 prohibiting the fishing of Eastern Baltic cod until year-end; and secondly, the Council decided in October 2019 on necessary and unprecedented fishing restrictions for 2020. However, a recovery can nevertheless not be expected for several years. These exceptional measures will therefore lead to redundant fleet capacities and to severe adverse socio-economic consequences for the related coastal communities and fishing businesses. The fisheries sector is a key component of the economic life of many coastal regions in the Baltic Sea. However, the quota uptake for Eastern Baltic cod has been relatively low (below 60%) for many years; in 2018 the uptake was only 40% and even lower in 2019 up until mid-July when the Commission’s emergency measures kicked in (19%). The relatively low quota uptake already in 2018 may well have been a first sign of the bad environmental situation and the high impact it has on Eastern Baltic cod. Commission analysis shows that the fleet segments with the highest dependency on Eastern Baltic cod encompass more than 300 vessels, mainly trawlers and netters in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, and to a lesser extent Denmark. Of these, only a minority seem resilient enough to survive a short-term – but not a medium or long-term – closure. The rest either suffer already from a poor situation that will be worsened by the closure or will see their profitability completely erode. These fleet segments are of significant socioeconomic importance, representing between roughly 20% and 50% of the respective national fleet in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, expressed in full-time equivalents. Given the total closure of any directed fishery for Eastern Baltic cod and the strong reductions agreed for other Baltic stocks by the Council on 14-15 October 2019, the vessels and fleet segments most heavily impacted by the closure of the targeted Eastern Baltic cod fishery will not all be able to redirect their fishing activities to other species. The closure will have a substantial impact for the Eastern Baltic cod fleets, with a strong negative impact in certain regions and coastal communities. Based on this and taking into account on-going contacts with the Member States on the significant negative impact of this situation on the fisheries sector and the fact that stakeholders cannot themselves mitigate the adverse consequences, the Commission concluded that contingency measures are necessary for the fisheries sector. The contingency measures consist in introducing a capacity ceiling for the Member States in the Baltic Sea whose fleets are affected by the adverse situation for Eastern Baltic cod and a capacity exit regime for fleets formerly fishing on Eastern Baltic cod. The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (hereafter “EMFF”) established by Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council is the fund for the EU’s maritime and fisheries policies for 2014-2020. 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; support coastal communities in diversifying their economies and finances projects that create new jobs and improve quality of life along European coasts. This fund should hence provide the possibility to the Member States affected by the exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod to grant financial support for achieving and maintaining a balance between the fleet capacity and the fishing opportunities by making financial support for permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping eligible under the EMFF 2014-2020. This support was granted until end of 2017 (and has been recently introduced for the multiannual plan in the western Mediterranean Sea). Introducing decommissioning in the form of scrapping again is an unforeseen measure in response to an exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod. The fund should therefore provide for additional flexibility in this exceptional situation by allowing the same Member States to redirect available appropriations for storage aid and Integrated Maritime Policy inside the financial envelope of each Member State to the permanent cessation of fishing activities with a view to reinforce the need to scrap vessels, while at the same time not negatively impacting the achievements of other CFP objectives and the implementation of the EMFF. This proposal hence aims at the sustainable management of Baltic Sea fish stocks by reducing redundant fleet capacities in the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. Moreover, the Member States and the Commission share the view that urgent action is needed to tackle the root causes of that critical environmental and social situation. This implies addressing with an increased determination the key environmental pressures in the Baltic Sea area that are preventing a recovery of Eastern Baltic cod, and to reduce the structural imbalance in the fleet capacity of fleets formerly targeting Eastern Baltic cod. This proposal therefore introduces the possibility to provide public support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping for fishermen and operators that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod and who are affected by the closure of the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. In order to ensure the consistency of fleet structural adaptation in the Baltic Sea with the conservation objectives laid down in the Multiannual Management Plan, support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through the scrapping of fishing vessels that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod should be strictly conditional and linked to the achievement of the adjustment targets and tools defined in the action plans for imbalanced segments. Finally, additional control measures should be introduced and the collection of relevant data improved. 
Revised version (Article 49 Management, relief and advisory services for aquaculture farms):
1. In order to improve the overall performance and competitiveness of aquaculture farms, and to reduce the negative environmental impact of their operations, the EMFF may support: (a) the setting-up of management, relief and advisory services for aquaculture farms; (b) the purchase of farm advisory services of a technical, scientific, legal, environmental or economic nature. In order to improve the overall performance and competitiveness of aquaculture farms, and to reduce the negative environmental impact of their operations, the EMFF may support: (a) the setting-up of management, relief and advisory services for aquaculture farms; (b) the purchase of farm advisory services of a technical, scientific, legal, environmental or economic nature. 2. Advisory services referred to in point (b) of paragraph 1 shall cover: (a) the management needs to enable aquaculture farms to comply with Union and national environmental legislation, as well as with maritime spatial planning requirements; (b) environmental impact assessment as referred to in Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 15 ) and Directive 92/43/EEC; (c) the management needs to enable aquaculture farms to comply with Union and national aquatic animal health and welfare or public health legislation; (d) health and safety standards based on Union and national legislation; (e) marketing and business strategies. 3. The advisory services referred to in point (b) of paragraph 1 shall be provided by scientific or technical bodies, as well as by entities providing legal or economic advice with the required competences as recognised by the Member State. 4. Support under point (a) of paragraph 1 shall only be granted to public law bodies or other entities selected by the Member State to set up the farm advisory services. Support under point (b) of paragraph 1 shall only be granted to aquaculture SMEs or aquaculture organisations, including aquaculture producer organisations and associations of aquaculture producer organisations. 5. Where the support does not exceed EUR 4 000 , the beneficiary may be selected by means of an accelerated procedure. 6. Beneficiaries shall not receive support more than once per year for each category of advisory services referred to in paragraph 2.
Article 50 Promotion of human capital and networking
1. In order to promote human capital and networking in aquaculture, the EMFF may support: (a) professional training, lifelong learning, the dissemination of scientific and technical knowledge and innovative practices, the acquisition of new professional skills in aquaculture and with regard to the reduction of the environmental impact of aquaculture operations; (b) the improvement of working conditions and the promotion of occupational safety; (c) networking and exchange of experiences and best practices among aquaculture enterprises or professional organisations and other stakeholders, including scientific and technical bodies or those promoting equal opportunities between men and women. 2. Support referred to in point (a) of paragraph 1 shall not be granted to large aquaculture enterprises, unless they are engaged in knowledge-sharing with SMEs. 3. By way of derogation from Article 46, support under this Article shall also be granted to public or semi-public organisations and to other organisations recognised by the Member State. 4. Support under this Article shall also be granted to spouses of self-employed aquaculture farmers or, where and in so far as they are recognised by national law, to the life partners of self-employed aquaculture farmers, under the conditions laid down in point (b) of Article 2 of Directive 2010/41/EU.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The military aggression of Russia against Ukraine since 24 February 2022 is impacting on operators of the fishery and aquaculture sector in the Union. The disruption of trade flows of key commodities for the fishery and aquaculture sector from Russia and Ukraine abruptly intensified the increase in prices of key inputs such as energy and raw materials. Trade between Ukraine and the Union is also severely affected by the unavailability of transport, as Ukrainian airports were rendered inoperable because of the Russian attack and all commercial shipping operations in Ukrainian ports have been suspended. The current crisis is likely to have serious consequences for the supply of grain, vegetable oils and white fish from Ukraine and Russia to the Union, leading to a substantial increase in fish feed prices and to shortages of key raw materials. Part of the Union fleet has ceased fishing because of the decrease in profitability of that activity and the impossibility of offsetting the increase in input costs such as soaring prices for energy. The combined impact of the cost increases and shortages is also being felt by the seafood farming and processing sectors. There is therefore significant market disruption, caused by substantial cost increases, and trade disruptions, requiring effective and efficient action.The military aggression of Russia against Ukraine also jeopardises the security of fishing activities carried out by Union fishers in neighbouring areas. This has led to a precautionary interruption of activities in certain areas. In the light of the above, the Commission is proposing an amendment to Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) by introducing specific measures to alleviate the consequences of the military aggression of Russia against Ukraine on fishing activities and to mitigate the effects of the market disruption caused by that military aggression on the supply chain of fishery and aquaculture products. Expenditure is still eligible for a contribution from that Fund until 31 December 2023. This proposal complements Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/500 of 25 March 2022 establishing the military aggression of Russia against Ukraine as the occurrence of an exceptional event causing a significant disruption of markets, thereby triggering crisis support measures under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). Packages of measures under both the EMFF and the EMFAF maximise the use of available financial resources to support the fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing sectors in the current crisis. 
Revised version (Article 50 Promotion of human capital and networking):
2. Support referred to in point (a) of paragraph 1 shall not be granted to large aquaculture enterprises, unless they are engaged in knowledge-sharing with SMEs. 3. By way of derogation from Article 46, support under this Article shall also be granted to public or semi-public organisations and to other organisations recognised by the Member State. 4. Support under this Article shall also be granted to spouses of self-employed aquaculture farmers or, where and in so far as they are recognised by national law, to the life partners of self-employed aquaculture farmers, under the conditions laid down in point (b) of Article 2 of Directive 2010/41/EU.
Article 51 Increasing the potential of aquaculture sites
1. In order to contribute to the development of the aquaculture sites and infrastructures, and to reduce the negative environmental impact of the operations, the EMFF may support: (a) the identification and mapping of the most suitable areas for developing aquaculture, taking into account, where applicable, spatial planning processes, and the identification and mapping of areas where aquaculture should be excluded in order to maintain the role of such areas in the functioning of the ecosystem; (b) the improvement and development of support facilities and infrastructures required to increase the potential of aquaculture sites and to reduce the negative environmental impact of aquaculture, including investments in land consolidation, energy supply or water management; (c) action taken and implemented by competent authorities under Article 9(1) of Directive 2009/147/EC or Article 16(1) of Directive 92/43/EEC, with the aim of preventing serious damage to aquaculture; (d) action taken and implemented by competent authorities following the detection of increased mortalities or diseases as provided for in Article 10 of Council Directive 2006/88/EC ( 14 ). Those actions may cover the adoption of shellfish action plans aimed at the protection, restoration and management, including support to shellfish producers for the maintenance, of natural shellfish banks and catchment areas. 2. Beneficiaries of support under this Article shall only be public law bodies or private bodies entrusted by the Member State with the tasks referred to in paragraph 1.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The military aggression of Russia against Ukraine since 24 February 2022 is impacting on operators of the fishery and aquaculture sector in the Union. The disruption of trade flows of key commodities for the fishery and aquaculture sector from Russia and Ukraine abruptly intensified the increase in prices of key inputs such as energy and raw materials. Trade between Ukraine and the Union is also severely affected by the unavailability of transport, as Ukrainian airports were rendered inoperable because of the Russian attack and all commercial shipping operations in Ukrainian ports have been suspended. The current crisis is likely to have serious consequences for the supply of grain, vegetable oils and white fish from Ukraine and Russia to the Union, leading to a substantial increase in fish feed prices and to shortages of key raw materials. Part of the Union fleet has ceased fishing because of the decrease in profitability of that activity and the impossibility of offsetting the increase in input costs such as soaring prices for energy. The combined impact of the cost increases and shortages is also being felt by the seafood farming and processing sectors. There is therefore significant market disruption, caused by substantial cost increases, and trade disruptions, requiring effective and efficient action.The military aggression of Russia against Ukraine also jeopardises the security of fishing activities carried out by Union fishers in neighbouring areas. This has led to a precautionary interruption of activities in certain areas. In the light of the above, the Commission is proposing an amendment to Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) by introducing specific measures to alleviate the consequences of the military aggression of Russia against Ukraine on fishing activities and to mitigate the effects of the market disruption caused by that military aggression on the supply chain of fishery and aquaculture products. Expenditure is still eligible for a contribution from that Fund until 31 December 2023. This proposal complements Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/500 of 25 March 2022 establishing the military aggression of Russia against Ukraine as the occurrence of an exceptional event causing a significant disruption of markets, thereby triggering crisis support measures under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). Packages of measures under both the EMFF and the EMFAF maximise the use of available financial resources to support the fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing sectors in the current crisis. 
Revised version (Article 51 Increasing the potential of aquaculture sites):
2. Beneficiaries of support under this Article shall only be public law bodies or private bodies entrusted by the Member State with the tasks referred to in paragraph 1.
Article 52 Encouraging new aquaculture farmers practising sustainable aquaculture
1. In order to foster entrepreneurship in aquaculture, the EMFF may support the setting-up of sustainable aquaculture enterprises by new aquaculture farmers. 2. Support under paragraph 1 shall be granted to aquaculture farmers entering the sector provided that they: (a) possess adequate professional skills and competence; (b) set up for the first time an aquaculture micro or small enterprise, as managers of that enterprise; and (c) submit a business plan for the development of their aquaculture activities. 3. In order to acquire adequate professional skills, aquaculture farmers entering the sector may benefit from support under point (a) of Article 50(1).
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The military aggression of Russia against Ukraine since 24 February 2022 is impacting on operators of the fishery and aquaculture sector in the Union. The disruption of trade flows of key commodities for the fishery and aquaculture sector from Russia and Ukraine abruptly intensified the increase in prices of key inputs such as energy and raw materials. Trade between Ukraine and the Union is also severely affected by the unavailability of transport, as Ukrainian airports were rendered inoperable because of the Russian attack and all commercial shipping operations in Ukrainian ports have been suspended. The current crisis is likely to have serious consequences for the supply of grain, vegetable oils and white fish from Ukraine and Russia to the Union, leading to a substantial increase in fish feed prices and to shortages of key raw materials. Part of the Union fleet has ceased fishing because of the decrease in profitability of that activity and the impossibility of offsetting the increase in input costs such as soaring prices for energy. The combined impact of the cost increases and shortages is also being felt by the seafood farming and processing sectors. There is therefore significant market disruption, caused by substantial cost increases, and trade disruptions, requiring effective and efficient action.The military aggression of Russia against Ukraine also jeopardises the security of fishing activities carried out by Union fishers in neighbouring areas. This has led to a precautionary interruption of activities in certain areas. In the light of the above, the Commission is proposing an amendment to Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) by introducing specific measures to alleviate the consequences of the military aggression of Russia against Ukraine on fishing activities and to mitigate the effects of the market disruption caused by that military aggression on the supply chain of fishery and aquaculture products. Expenditure is still eligible for a contribution from that Fund until 31 December 2023. This proposal complements Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/500 of 25 March 2022 establishing the military aggression of Russia against Ukraine as the occurrence of an exceptional event causing a significant disruption of markets, thereby triggering crisis support measures under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). Packages of measures under both the EMFF and the EMFAF maximise the use of available financial resources to support the fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing sectors in the current crisis. 
Revised version (Article 52 Encouraging new aquaculture farmers practising sustainable aquaculture):
1. In order to foster entrepreneurship in aquaculture, the EMFF may support the setting-up of sustainable aquaculture enterprises by new aquaculture farmers. 3. In order to acquire adequate professional skills, aquaculture farmers entering the sector may benefit from support under point (a) of Article 50(1).
Article 53 Conversion to eco-management and audit schemes and organic aquaculture
1. In order to promote the development of organic or energy–efficient aquaculture, the EMFF may support: (a) the conversion of conventional aquaculture production methods into organic aquaculture within the meaning of Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 ( 15 ) and in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 710/2009 ( 16 ); (b) the participation in the Union eco-management and audit schemes (EMAS) established by Regulation (EC) No 761/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 17 ). 2. Support shall only be granted to beneficiaries who commit themselves to participate in the EMAS for a minimum of three years or to comply with the requirements of organic production for a minimum of five years. 3. Support shall take the form of compensation for a maximum of three years during the period of the conversion of the enterprise to organic production, or during the preparation for participation in the EMAS. Member States shall calculate that compensation on the basis of: (a) the loss of revenue or additional costs incurred during the period of transition from conventional into organic production for operations eligible under point (a) of paragraph 1; or (b) the additional costs resulting from the application and preparation of the participation in EMAS for operations eligible under point (b) of paragraph 1.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The military aggression of Russia against Ukraine since 24 February 2022 is impacting on operators of the fishery and aquaculture sector in the Union. The disruption of trade flows of key commodities for the fishery and aquaculture sector from Russia and Ukraine abruptly intensified the increase in prices of key inputs such as energy and raw materials. Trade between Ukraine and the Union is also severely affected by the unavailability of transport, as Ukrainian airports were rendered inoperable because of the Russian attack and all commercial shipping operations in Ukrainian ports have been suspended. The current crisis is likely to have serious consequences for the supply of grain, vegetable oils and white fish from Ukraine and Russia to the Union, leading to a substantial increase in fish feed prices and to shortages of key raw materials. Part of the Union fleet has ceased fishing because of the decrease in profitability of that activity and the impossibility of offsetting the increase in input costs such as soaring prices for energy. The combined impact of the cost increases and shortages is also being felt by the seafood farming and processing sectors. There is therefore significant market disruption, caused by substantial cost increases, and trade disruptions, requiring effective and efficient action.The military aggression of Russia against Ukraine also jeopardises the security of fishing activities carried out by Union fishers in neighbouring areas. This has led to a precautionary interruption of activities in certain areas. In the light of the above, the Commission is proposing an amendment to Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) by introducing specific measures to alleviate the consequences of the military aggression of Russia against Ukraine on fishing activities and to mitigate the effects of the market disruption caused by that military aggression on the supply chain of fishery and aquaculture products. Expenditure is still eligible for a contribution from that Fund until 31 December 2023. This proposal complements Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/500 of 25 March 2022 establishing the military aggression of Russia against Ukraine as the occurrence of an exceptional event causing a significant disruption of markets, thereby triggering crisis support measures under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). Packages of measures under both the EMFF and the EMFAF maximise the use of available financial resources to support the fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing sectors in the current crisis. 
Revised version (Article 53 Conversion to eco-management and audit schemes and organic aquaculture):
2. Support shall only be granted to beneficiaries who commit themselves to participate in the EMAS for a minimum of three years or to comply with the requirements of organic production for a minimum of five years.
Article 54 Aquaculture providing environmental services
1. In order to foster the development of aquaculture providing environmental services, the EMFF may support: (a) aquaculture methods compatible with specific environmental needs and subject to specific management requirements resulting from the designation of NATURA 2000 areas in accordance with Directives 92/43/EEC and 2009/147/EC; (b) participation, in terms of costs directly related thereto, in ex-situ conservation and reproduction of aquatic animals, within the framework of conservation and biodiversity restoration programmes developed by public authorities, or under their supervision; (c) aquaculture operations which include conservation and improvement of the environment and of biodiversity, and management of the landscape and traditional features of aquaculture zones. 2. Support under point (a) of paragraph 1 shall take the form of annual compensation for the additional costs incurred and/or income foregone as a result of management requirements in the areas concerned, related to the implementation of Directives 92/43/EEC or 2009/147/EC. 3. Support under point (c) of paragraph 1 shall be granted only to beneficiaries who commit themselves for a minimum period of five years to aqua-environmental requirements that go beyond the mere application of Union and national law. The environmental benefits of the operation shall be demonstrated by a prior assessment conducted by competent bodies designated by the Member State, unless the environmental benefits of that operation are already recognised. 4. Support under point (c) of paragraph 1 shall take the form of annual compensation for the additional costs incurred and/or income foregone. 5. The results of operations receiving support under this Article shall be adequately publicised by the Member State in accordance with Article 119.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The military aggression of Russia against Ukraine since 24 February 2022 is impacting on operators of the fishery and aquaculture sector in the Union. The disruption of trade flows of key commodities for the fishery and aquaculture sector from Russia and Ukraine abruptly intensified the increase in prices of key inputs such as energy and raw materials. Trade between Ukraine and the Union is also severely affected by the unavailability of transport, as Ukrainian airports were rendered inoperable because of the Russian attack and all commercial shipping operations in Ukrainian ports have been suspended. The current crisis is likely to have serious consequences for the supply of grain, vegetable oils and white fish from Ukraine and Russia to the Union, leading to a substantial increase in fish feed prices and to shortages of key raw materials. Part of the Union fleet has ceased fishing because of the decrease in profitability of that activity and the impossibility of offsetting the increase in input costs such as soaring prices for energy. The combined impact of the cost increases and shortages is also being felt by the seafood farming and processing sectors. There is therefore significant market disruption, caused by substantial cost increases, and trade disruptions, requiring effective and efficient action.The military aggression of Russia against Ukraine also jeopardises the security of fishing activities carried out by Union fishers in neighbouring areas. This has led to a precautionary interruption of activities in certain areas. In the light of the above, the Commission is proposing an amendment to Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) by introducing specific measures to alleviate the consequences of the military aggression of Russia against Ukraine on fishing activities and to mitigate the effects of the market disruption caused by that military aggression on the supply chain of fishery and aquaculture products. Expenditure is still eligible for a contribution from that Fund until 31 December 2023. This proposal complements Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/500 of 25 March 2022 establishing the military aggression of Russia against Ukraine as the occurrence of an exceptional event causing a significant disruption of markets, thereby triggering crisis support measures under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). Packages of measures under both the EMFF and the EMFAF maximise the use of available financial resources to support the fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing sectors in the current crisis. 
Revised version (Article 54 Aquaculture providing environmental services):
2. Support under point (a) of paragraph 1 shall take the form of annual compensation for the additional costs incurred and/or income foregone as a result of management requirements in the areas concerned, related to the implementation of Directives 92/43/EEC or 2009/147/EC. 3. Support under point (c) of paragraph 1 shall be granted only to beneficiaries who commit themselves for a minimum period of five years to aqua-environmental requirements that go beyond the mere application of Union and national law. The environmental benefits of the operation shall be demonstrated by a prior assessment conducted by competent bodies designated by the Member State, unless the environmental benefits of that operation are already recognised. 4. Support under point (c) of paragraph 1 shall take the form of annual compensation for the additional costs incurred and/or income foregone. 5. The results of operations receiving support under this Article shall be adequately publicised by the Member State in accordance with Article 119.
Article 55 Public health measures
1. The EMFF may support compensation to mollusc farmers for the temporary suspension of harvesting of farmed molluscs, where such suspension occurs exclusively for reasons of public health. 2. Support may only be granted where the suspension of harvesting due to the contamination of molluscs is the result of the proliferation of toxin-producing plankton or the presence of plankton containing biotoxins, and provided that: (a) the contamination lasts for more than four consecutive months; or (b) the loss, resulting from the suspension of the harvest, amounts to more than 25 % of the annual turnover of the business concerned, calculated on the basis of the average turnover of that business over the three calendar years preceding the year in which the harvest was suspended. For the purposes of point (b) of the first subparagraph, Member States may establish special calculation rules in respect of companies with less than three years of activity. 3. The duration for which compensation may be granted shall be a maximum of 12 months over the entire programming period. In duly justified cases, it may be extended once for a maximum of an additional 12 months up to a combined maximum of 24 months.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The ecosystem in the Baltic Sea has been in a fragile state for decades. However, it was only in 2019 that scientists warned that the environmental conditions have a much more important impact on Eastern Baltic Cod than previously estimated. This situation is now causing a steep decline of Eastern Baltic cod. The situation is moreover unprecedented as the Eastern Baltic cod stock is the only stock in European waters for which ICES assesses natural mortality from environmental pressures to be about three times higher than fishing mortality. No other fish stock in European waters is in such a situation. The Eastern Baltic cod stock is not expected to recover before 2024, even with no fishing at all. Therefore given the above situation, this year, acting upon the best available scientific advice and in accordance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy and the Multiannual Plan for the Baltic Sea (hereafter “Baltic MAP”), the Commission adopted first emergency measures in July 2019 prohibiting the fishing of Eastern Baltic cod until year-end; and secondly, the Council decided in October 2019 on necessary and unprecedented fishing restrictions for 2020. However, a recovery can nevertheless not be expected for several years. These exceptional measures will therefore lead to redundant fleet capacities and to severe adverse socio-economic consequences for the related coastal communities and fishing businesses. The fisheries sector is a key component of the economic life of many coastal regions in the Baltic Sea. However, the quota uptake for Eastern Baltic cod has been relatively low (below 60%) for many years; in 2018 the uptake was only 40% and even lower in 2019 up until mid-July when the Commission’s emergency measures kicked in (19%). The relatively low quota uptake already in 2018 may well have been a first sign of the bad environmental situation and the high impact it has on Eastern Baltic cod. Commission analysis shows that the fleet segments with the highest dependency on Eastern Baltic cod encompass more than 300 vessels, mainly trawlers and netters in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, and to a lesser extent Denmark. Of these, only a minority seem resilient enough to survive a short-term – but not a medium or long-term – closure. The rest either suffer already from a poor situation that will be worsened by the closure or will see their profitability completely erode. These fleet segments are of significant socioeconomic importance, representing between roughly 20% and 50% of the respective national fleet in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, expressed in full-time equivalents. Given the total closure of any directed fishery for Eastern Baltic cod and the strong reductions agreed for other Baltic stocks by the Council on 14-15 October 2019, the vessels and fleet segments most heavily impacted by the closure of the targeted Eastern Baltic cod fishery will not all be able to redirect their fishing activities to other species. The closure will have a substantial impact for the Eastern Baltic cod fleets, with a strong negative impact in certain regions and coastal communities. Based on this and taking into account on-going contacts with the Member States on the significant negative impact of this situation on the fisheries sector and the fact that stakeholders cannot themselves mitigate the adverse consequences, the Commission concluded that contingency measures are necessary for the fisheries sector. The contingency measures consist in introducing a capacity ceiling for the Member States in the Baltic Sea whose fleets are affected by the adverse situation for Eastern Baltic cod and a capacity exit regime for fleets formerly fishing on Eastern Baltic cod. The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (hereafter “EMFF”) established by Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council is the fund for the EU’s maritime and fisheries policies for 2014-2020. 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; support coastal communities in diversifying their economies and finances projects that create new jobs and improve quality of life along European coasts. This fund should hence provide the possibility to the Member States affected by the exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod to grant financial support for achieving and maintaining a balance between the fleet capacity and the fishing opportunities by making financial support for permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping eligible under the EMFF 2014-2020. This support was granted until end of 2017 (and has been recently introduced for the multiannual plan in the western Mediterranean Sea). Introducing decommissioning in the form of scrapping again is an unforeseen measure in response to an exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod. The fund should therefore provide for additional flexibility in this exceptional situation by allowing the same Member States to redirect available appropriations for storage aid and Integrated Maritime Policy inside the financial envelope of each Member State to the permanent cessation of fishing activities with a view to reinforce the need to scrap vessels, while at the same time not negatively impacting the achievements of other CFP objectives and the implementation of the EMFF. This proposal hence aims at the sustainable management of Baltic Sea fish stocks by reducing redundant fleet capacities in the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. Moreover, the Member States and the Commission share the view that urgent action is needed to tackle the root causes of that critical environmental and social situation. This implies addressing with an increased determination the key environmental pressures in the Baltic Sea area that are preventing a recovery of Eastern Baltic cod, and to reduce the structural imbalance in the fleet capacity of fleets formerly targeting Eastern Baltic cod. This proposal therefore introduces the possibility to provide public support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping for fishermen and operators that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod and who are affected by the closure of the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. In order to ensure the consistency of fleet structural adaptation in the Baltic Sea with the conservation objectives laid down in the Multiannual Management Plan, support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through the scrapping of fishing vessels that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod should be strictly conditional and linked to the achievement of the adjustment targets and tools defined in the action plans for imbalanced segments. Finally, additional control measures should be introduced and the collection of relevant data improved. 
Revised version (Article 55 Public health measures):
1. The EMFF may support the following compensation schemes: (a) compensation to mollusc farmers for the temporary suspension of the harvesting of farmed molluscs, where such suspension occurs exclusively for reasons of public health; (b) granting working capital and compensation to aquaculture farmers. The EMFF may support the following compensation schemes: (a) compensation to mollusc farmers for the temporary suspension of the harvesting of farmed molluscs, where such suspension occurs exclusively for reasons of public health; (b) granting working capital and compensation to aquaculture farmers. Compensation referred to in point (b) of the first subparagraph may be granted for the temporary suspension or reduction of production and sales or for the additional storage costs occurring between 1 February and 31 December 2020 as a consequence of the COVID‐19 outbreak. 2. Support under point (a) of paragraph 1 may only be granted where the suspension of harvesting due to the contamination of molluscs is the result of the proliferation of toxin‐producing plankton or the presence of plankton containing biotoxins, and provided that: (a) the contamination lasts for more than four consecutive months; or (b) the loss, resulting from the suspension of harvesting, amounts to more than 25 % of the annual turnover of the business concerned, calculated on the basis of the average turnover of that business over the three calendar years preceding the year in which the harvest was suspended. For the purposes of point (b) of the first subparagraph, Member States may establish special calculation rules in respect of companies with less than three years of activity. 3. The duration for which compensation under point (a) of paragraph 1 may be granted shall be a maximum of 12 months over the entire programming period. In duly justified cases, it may be extended once for a maximum of an additional 12 months up to a combined maximum of 24 months. In accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 65(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 and by way of derogation from the first subparagraph thereof, expenditure for operations supported under point (b) of paragraph 1 of this Article shall be eligible as of 1 February 2020.
Article 56 Animal health and welfare measures
1. In order to foster animal health and welfare in aquaculture enterprises, inter alia, in terms of prevention and bio-security, the EMFF may support: (a) the costs of control and eradication of diseases in aquaculture in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 652/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 18 ) , including the operational costs necessary to fulfil the obligations in an eradication plan; (b) the development of general and species-specific best practices or codes of conduct on bio-security or on animal health and animal welfare needs in aquaculture; (c) initiatives aimed at reducing the dependence of aquaculture on veterinary medicine; (d) veterinary or pharmaceutical studies and dissemination and exchange of information and best practices regarding veterinary diseases in aquaculture, with the aim of promoting an appropriate use of veterinary medicine; (e) the establishment and operation of health protection groups in the aquaculture sector as recognised by Member States; (f) compensation to mollusc farmers for the temporary suspension of their activities due to exceptional mass mortality, if the mortality rate exceeds 20 %, or if the loss resulting from the suspension of the activity amounts to more than 35 % of the annual turnover of the business concerned, calculated on the basis of the average turnover of that business over the three calendar years preceding the year in which the activities were suspended. 2. Support under point (d) of paragraph 1 shall not cover the purchase of veterinary medicines. 3. The results of the studies financed under point (d) of paragraph 1 shall be adequately reported and publicised by the Member State in accordance with Article 119. 4. Support may also be granted to public law bodies.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The military aggression of Russia against Ukraine since 24 February 2022 is impacting on operators of the fishery and aquaculture sector in the Union. The disruption of trade flows of key commodities for the fishery and aquaculture sector from Russia and Ukraine abruptly intensified the increase in prices of key inputs such as energy and raw materials. Trade between Ukraine and the Union is also severely affected by the unavailability of transport, as Ukrainian airports were rendered inoperable because of the Russian attack and all commercial shipping operations in Ukrainian ports have been suspended. The current crisis is likely to have serious consequences for the supply of grain, vegetable oils and white fish from Ukraine and Russia to the Union, leading to a substantial increase in fish feed prices and to shortages of key raw materials. Part of the Union fleet has ceased fishing because of the decrease in profitability of that activity and the impossibility of offsetting the increase in input costs such as soaring prices for energy. The combined impact of the cost increases and shortages is also being felt by the seafood farming and processing sectors. There is therefore significant market disruption, caused by substantial cost increases, and trade disruptions, requiring effective and efficient action.The military aggression of Russia against Ukraine also jeopardises the security of fishing activities carried out by Union fishers in neighbouring areas. This has led to a precautionary interruption of activities in certain areas. In the light of the above, the Commission is proposing an amendment to Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) by introducing specific measures to alleviate the consequences of the military aggression of Russia against Ukraine on fishing activities and to mitigate the effects of the market disruption caused by that military aggression on the supply chain of fishery and aquaculture products. Expenditure is still eligible for a contribution from that Fund until 31 December 2023. This proposal complements Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/500 of 25 March 2022 establishing the military aggression of Russia against Ukraine as the occurrence of an exceptional event causing a significant disruption of markets, thereby triggering crisis support measures under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). Packages of measures under both the EMFF and the EMFAF maximise the use of available financial resources to support the fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing sectors in the current crisis. 
Revised version (Article 56 Animal health and welfare measures):
2. Support under point (d) of paragraph 1 shall not cover the purchase of veterinary medicines. 3. The results of the studies financed under point (d) of paragraph 1 shall be adequately reported and publicised by the Member State in accordance with Article 119. 4. Support may also be granted to public law bodies.
Article 57 Aquaculture stock insurance
1. In order to safeguard the income of aquaculture producers, the EMFF may contribute to an aquaculture stock insurance covering economic losses due to at least one of the following: (a) natural disasters; (b) adverse climatic events; (c) sudden water quality and quantity changes for which the operator is not responsible; (d) diseases in aquaculture, failure or destruction of production facilities for which the operator is not responsible. 2. The occurrence of the circumstances referred to in paragraph 1 in aquaculture shall be formally recognised as such by the Member State concerned. 3. Member States may, where appropriate, establish in advance criteria on the basis of which the formal recognition referred to in paragraph 2 shall be deemed to be granted. 4. Support shall only be granted for aquaculture stock insurance contracts which cover economic losses, as referred to in paragraph 1, exceeding 30 % of the average annual turnover of the aquaculture farmer, calculated on the basis of the average turnover of the aquaculture farmer over the three calendar years preceding the year in which the economic losses occurred.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The ecosystem in the Baltic Sea has been in a fragile state for decades. However, it was only in 2019 that scientists warned that the environmental conditions have a much more important impact on Eastern Baltic Cod than previously estimated. This situation is now causing a steep decline of Eastern Baltic cod. The situation is moreover unprecedented as the Eastern Baltic cod stock is the only stock in European waters for which ICES assesses natural mortality from environmental pressures to be about three times higher than fishing mortality. No other fish stock in European waters is in such a situation. The Eastern Baltic cod stock is not expected to recover before 2024, even with no fishing at all. Therefore given the above situation, this year, acting upon the best available scientific advice and in accordance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy and the Multiannual Plan for the Baltic Sea (hereafter “Baltic MAP”), the Commission adopted first emergency measures in July 2019 prohibiting the fishing of Eastern Baltic cod until year-end; and secondly, the Council decided in October 2019 on necessary and unprecedented fishing restrictions for 2020. However, a recovery can nevertheless not be expected for several years. These exceptional measures will therefore lead to redundant fleet capacities and to severe adverse socio-economic consequences for the related coastal communities and fishing businesses. The fisheries sector is a key component of the economic life of many coastal regions in the Baltic Sea. However, the quota uptake for Eastern Baltic cod has been relatively low (below 60%) for many years; in 2018 the uptake was only 40% and even lower in 2019 up until mid-July when the Commission’s emergency measures kicked in (19%). The relatively low quota uptake already in 2018 may well have been a first sign of the bad environmental situation and the high impact it has on Eastern Baltic cod. Commission analysis shows that the fleet segments with the highest dependency on Eastern Baltic cod encompass more than 300 vessels, mainly trawlers and netters in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, and to a lesser extent Denmark. Of these, only a minority seem resilient enough to survive a short-term – but not a medium or long-term – closure. The rest either suffer already from a poor situation that will be worsened by the closure or will see their profitability completely erode. These fleet segments are of significant socioeconomic importance, representing between roughly 20% and 50% of the respective national fleet in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, expressed in full-time equivalents. Given the total closure of any directed fishery for Eastern Baltic cod and the strong reductions agreed for other Baltic stocks by the Council on 14-15 October 2019, the vessels and fleet segments most heavily impacted by the closure of the targeted Eastern Baltic cod fishery will not all be able to redirect their fishing activities to other species. The closure will have a substantial impact for the Eastern Baltic cod fleets, with a strong negative impact in certain regions and coastal communities. Based on this and taking into account on-going contacts with the Member States on the significant negative impact of this situation on the fisheries sector and the fact that stakeholders cannot themselves mitigate the adverse consequences, the Commission concluded that contingency measures are necessary for the fisheries sector. The contingency measures consist in introducing a capacity ceiling for the Member States in the Baltic Sea whose fleets are affected by the adverse situation for Eastern Baltic cod and a capacity exit regime for fleets formerly fishing on Eastern Baltic cod. The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (hereafter “EMFF”) established by Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council is the fund for the EU’s maritime and fisheries policies for 2014-2020. 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; support coastal communities in diversifying their economies and finances projects that create new jobs and improve quality of life along European coasts. This fund should hence provide the possibility to the Member States affected by the exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod to grant financial support for achieving and maintaining a balance between the fleet capacity and the fishing opportunities by making financial support for permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping eligible under the EMFF 2014-2020. This support was granted until end of 2017 (and has been recently introduced for the multiannual plan in the western Mediterranean Sea). Introducing decommissioning in the form of scrapping again is an unforeseen measure in response to an exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod. The fund should therefore provide for additional flexibility in this exceptional situation by allowing the same Member States to redirect available appropriations for storage aid and Integrated Maritime Policy inside the financial envelope of each Member State to the permanent cessation of fishing activities with a view to reinforce the need to scrap vessels, while at the same time not negatively impacting the achievements of other CFP objectives and the implementation of the EMFF. This proposal hence aims at the sustainable management of Baltic Sea fish stocks by reducing redundant fleet capacities in the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. Moreover, the Member States and the Commission share the view that urgent action is needed to tackle the root causes of that critical environmental and social situation. This implies addressing with an increased determination the key environmental pressures in the Baltic Sea area that are preventing a recovery of Eastern Baltic cod, and to reduce the structural imbalance in the fleet capacity of fleets formerly targeting Eastern Baltic cod. This proposal therefore introduces the possibility to provide public support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping for fishermen and operators that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod and who are affected by the closure of the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. In order to ensure the consistency of fleet structural adaptation in the Baltic Sea with the conservation objectives laid down in the Multiannual Management Plan, support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through the scrapping of fishing vessels that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod should be strictly conditional and linked to the achievement of the adjustment targets and tools defined in the action plans for imbalanced segments. Finally, additional control measures should be introduced and the collection of relevant data improved. 
Revised version (Article 57 Aquaculture stock insurance):
In order to safeguard the income of aquaculture producers, the EMFF may contribute to an aquaculture stock insurance covering economic losses due to at least one of the following: (a) natural disasters; (b) adverse climatic events; (c) sudden water quality and quantity changes for which the operator is not responsible; (d) diseases in aquaculture, failure or destruction of production facilities for which the operator is not responsible; (e) public health crises. 2. The occurrence of the circumstances referred to in paragraph 1 in aquaculture shall be formally recognised as such by the Member State concerned. 3. Member States may, where appropriate, establish in advance criteria on the basis of which the formal recognition referred to in paragraph 2 shall be deemed to be granted. 4. Support shall only be granted for aquaculture stock insurance contracts which cover economic losses, as referred to in paragraph 1, exceeding 30 % of the average annual turnover of the aquaculture farmer, calculated on the basis of the average turnover of the aquaculture farmer over the three calendar years preceding the year in which the economic losses occurred.
Article 58 Scope
The EMFF shall support the sustainable development of fisheries and aquaculture areas following a community–led local development approach as set out in Article 32 of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013.
Article 59 Specific objectives
Support under this Chapter shall contribute to the achievement of the specific objectives under the Union priority set out in Article 6(4).
Article 60 Community–led local development strategies
1. In order to contribute to the achievement of the objectives referred to in Article 59, community–led local development strategies shall: (a) maximise the participation of fishery and aquaculture sectors in the sustainable development of coastal and inland fisheries and aquaculture areas; (b) ensure that local communities fully exploit and benefit from the opportunities offered by maritime, coastal and inland water development and, in particular, help small and declining fishing ports to maximise their marine potential by developing a diversified infrastructure. 2. The strategies shall be coherent with the opportunities and needs identified in the relevant area and the Union priorities set out in Article 6. Strategies may range from those which focus on fisheries to broader strategies directed at the diversification of fisheries areas. The strategies shall go beyond a mere collection of operations or juxtaposition of sectoral measures.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The ecosystem in the Baltic Sea has been in a fragile state for decades. However, it was only in 2019 that scientists warned that the environmental conditions have a much more important impact on Eastern Baltic Cod than previously estimated. This situation is now causing a steep decline of Eastern Baltic cod. The situation is moreover unprecedented as the Eastern Baltic cod stock is the only stock in European waters for which ICES assesses natural mortality from environmental pressures to be about three times higher than fishing mortality. No other fish stock in European waters is in such a situation. The Eastern Baltic cod stock is not expected to recover before 2024, even with no fishing at all. Therefore given the above situation, this year, acting upon the best available scientific advice and in accordance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy and the Multiannual Plan for the Baltic Sea (hereafter “Baltic MAP”), the Commission adopted first emergency measures in July 2019 prohibiting the fishing of Eastern Baltic cod until year-end; and secondly, the Council decided in October 2019 on necessary and unprecedented fishing restrictions for 2020. However, a recovery can nevertheless not be expected for several years. These exceptional measures will therefore lead to redundant fleet capacities and to severe adverse socio-economic consequences for the related coastal communities and fishing businesses. The fisheries sector is a key component of the economic life of many coastal regions in the Baltic Sea. However, the quota uptake for Eastern Baltic cod has been relatively low (below 60%) for many years; in 2018 the uptake was only 40% and even lower in 2019 up until mid-July when the Commission’s emergency measures kicked in (19%). The relatively low quota uptake already in 2018 may well have been a first sign of the bad environmental situation and the high impact it has on Eastern Baltic cod. Commission analysis shows that the fleet segments with the highest dependency on Eastern Baltic cod encompass more than 300 vessels, mainly trawlers and netters in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, and to a lesser extent Denmark. Of these, only a minority seem resilient enough to survive a short-term – but not a medium or long-term – closure. The rest either suffer already from a poor situation that will be worsened by the closure or will see their profitability completely erode. These fleet segments are of significant socioeconomic importance, representing between roughly 20% and 50% of the respective national fleet in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, expressed in full-time equivalents. Given the total closure of any directed fishery for Eastern Baltic cod and the strong reductions agreed for other Baltic stocks by the Council on 14-15 October 2019, the vessels and fleet segments most heavily impacted by the closure of the targeted Eastern Baltic cod fishery will not all be able to redirect their fishing activities to other species. The closure will have a substantial impact for the Eastern Baltic cod fleets, with a strong negative impact in certain regions and coastal communities. Based on this and taking into account on-going contacts with the Member States on the significant negative impact of this situation on the fisheries sector and the fact that stakeholders cannot themselves mitigate the adverse consequences, the Commission concluded that contingency measures are necessary for the fisheries sector. The contingency measures consist in introducing a capacity ceiling for the Member States in the Baltic Sea whose fleets are affected by the adverse situation for Eastern Baltic cod and a capacity exit regime for fleets formerly fishing on Eastern Baltic cod. The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (hereafter “EMFF”) established by Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council is the fund for the EU’s maritime and fisheries policies for 2014-2020. 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; support coastal communities in diversifying their economies and finances projects that create new jobs and improve quality of life along European coasts. This fund should hence provide the possibility to the Member States affected by the exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod to grant financial support for achieving and maintaining a balance between the fleet capacity and the fishing opportunities by making financial support for permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping eligible under the EMFF 2014-2020. This support was granted until end of 2017 (and has been recently introduced for the multiannual plan in the western Mediterranean Sea). Introducing decommissioning in the form of scrapping again is an unforeseen measure in response to an exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod. The fund should therefore provide for additional flexibility in this exceptional situation by allowing the same Member States to redirect available appropriations for storage aid and Integrated Maritime Policy inside the financial envelope of each Member State to the permanent cessation of fishing activities with a view to reinforce the need to scrap vessels, while at the same time not negatively impacting the achievements of other CFP objectives and the implementation of the EMFF. This proposal hence aims at the sustainable management of Baltic Sea fish stocks by reducing redundant fleet capacities in the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. Moreover, the Member States and the Commission share the view that urgent action is needed to tackle the root causes of that critical environmental and social situation. This implies addressing with an increased determination the key environmental pressures in the Baltic Sea area that are preventing a recovery of Eastern Baltic cod, and to reduce the structural imbalance in the fleet capacity of fleets formerly targeting Eastern Baltic cod. This proposal therefore introduces the possibility to provide public support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping for fishermen and operators that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod and who are affected by the closure of the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. In order to ensure the consistency of fleet structural adaptation in the Baltic Sea with the conservation objectives laid down in the Multiannual Management Plan, support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through the scrapping of fishing vessels that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod should be strictly conditional and linked to the achievement of the adjustment targets and tools defined in the action plans for imbalanced segments. Finally, additional control measures should be introduced and the collection of relevant data improved. 
Revised version (Article 60 Community–led local development strategies):
1. In order to contribute to the achievement of the objectives referred to in Article 59, community–led local development strategies shall: (a) maximise the participation of fishery and aquaculture sectors in the sustainable development of coastal and inland fisheries and aquaculture areas; (b) ensure that local communities fully exploit and benefit from the opportunities offered by maritime, coastal and inland water development and, in particular, help small and declining fishing ports to maximise their marine potential by developing a diversified infrastructure. In order to contribute to the achievement of the objectives referred to in Article 59, community–led local development strategies shall: (a) maximise the participation of fishery and aquaculture sectors in the sustainable development of coastal and inland fisheries and aquaculture areas; (b) ensure that local communities fully exploit and benefit from the opportunities offered by maritime, coastal and inland water development and, in particular, help small and declining fishing ports to maximise their marine potential by developing a diversified infrastructure. 2. The strategies shall be coherent with the opportunities and needs identified in the relevant area and the Union priorities set out in Article 6. Strategies may range from those which focus on fisheries to broader strategies directed at the diversification of fisheries areas. The strategies shall go beyond a mere collection of operations or juxtaposition of sectoral measures.
Article 61 Fisheries local action groups
1. For the purposes of the EMFF, the local action groups referred to in Article 32(2)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 shall be designated as Fisheries local action groups (FLAGs). 2. The FLAGs shall propose a community–led local development strategy based on, at least, the elements set out in Article 60 of this Regulation and shall be responsible for its implementation. 3. The FLAGs shall: (a) broadly reflect the main focus of their strategy and the socioeconomic composition of the area through a balanced representation of the main stakeholders, including private sector, public sector and civil society; (b) ensure a significant representation of the fisheries and/or aquaculture sectors. 4. If the community–led local development strategy is supported by other Funds in addition to the EMFF, the selection body of the FLAGs for the EMFF supported operations shall also fulfil the requirements set out in paragraph 3. 5. FLAGs may also carry out additional tasks going beyond the minimum tasks provided for in Article 34(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013, where such tasks are delegated to them by the managing authority.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The ecosystem in the Baltic Sea has been in a fragile state for decades. However, it was only in 2019 that scientists warned that the environmental conditions have a much more important impact on Eastern Baltic Cod than previously estimated. This situation is now causing a steep decline of Eastern Baltic cod. The situation is moreover unprecedented as the Eastern Baltic cod stock is the only stock in European waters for which ICES assesses natural mortality from environmental pressures to be about three times higher than fishing mortality. No other fish stock in European waters is in such a situation. The Eastern Baltic cod stock is not expected to recover before 2024, even with no fishing at all. Therefore given the above situation, this year, acting upon the best available scientific advice and in accordance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy and the Multiannual Plan for the Baltic Sea (hereafter “Baltic MAP”), the Commission adopted first emergency measures in July 2019 prohibiting the fishing of Eastern Baltic cod until year-end; and secondly, the Council decided in October 2019 on necessary and unprecedented fishing restrictions for 2020. However, a recovery can nevertheless not be expected for several years. These exceptional measures will therefore lead to redundant fleet capacities and to severe adverse socio-economic consequences for the related coastal communities and fishing businesses. The fisheries sector is a key component of the economic life of many coastal regions in the Baltic Sea. However, the quota uptake for Eastern Baltic cod has been relatively low (below 60%) for many years; in 2018 the uptake was only 40% and even lower in 2019 up until mid-July when the Commission’s emergency measures kicked in (19%). The relatively low quota uptake already in 2018 may well have been a first sign of the bad environmental situation and the high impact it has on Eastern Baltic cod. Commission analysis shows that the fleet segments with the highest dependency on Eastern Baltic cod encompass more than 300 vessels, mainly trawlers and netters in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, and to a lesser extent Denmark. Of these, only a minority seem resilient enough to survive a short-term – but not a medium or long-term – closure. The rest either suffer already from a poor situation that will be worsened by the closure or will see their profitability completely erode. These fleet segments are of significant socioeconomic importance, representing between roughly 20% and 50% of the respective national fleet in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, expressed in full-time equivalents. Given the total closure of any directed fishery for Eastern Baltic cod and the strong reductions agreed for other Baltic stocks by the Council on 14-15 October 2019, the vessels and fleet segments most heavily impacted by the closure of the targeted Eastern Baltic cod fishery will not all be able to redirect their fishing activities to other species. The closure will have a substantial impact for the Eastern Baltic cod fleets, with a strong negative impact in certain regions and coastal communities. Based on this and taking into account on-going contacts with the Member States on the significant negative impact of this situation on the fisheries sector and the fact that stakeholders cannot themselves mitigate the adverse consequences, the Commission concluded that contingency measures are necessary for the fisheries sector. The contingency measures consist in introducing a capacity ceiling for the Member States in the Baltic Sea whose fleets are affected by the adverse situation for Eastern Baltic cod and a capacity exit regime for fleets formerly fishing on Eastern Baltic cod. The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (hereafter “EMFF”) established by Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council is the fund for the EU’s maritime and fisheries policies for 2014-2020. 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; support coastal communities in diversifying their economies and finances projects that create new jobs and improve quality of life along European coasts. This fund should hence provide the possibility to the Member States affected by the exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod to grant financial support for achieving and maintaining a balance between the fleet capacity and the fishing opportunities by making financial support for permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping eligible under the EMFF 2014-2020. This support was granted until end of 2017 (and has been recently introduced for the multiannual plan in the western Mediterranean Sea). Introducing decommissioning in the form of scrapping again is an unforeseen measure in response to an exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod. The fund should therefore provide for additional flexibility in this exceptional situation by allowing the same Member States to redirect available appropriations for storage aid and Integrated Maritime Policy inside the financial envelope of each Member State to the permanent cessation of fishing activities with a view to reinforce the need to scrap vessels, while at the same time not negatively impacting the achievements of other CFP objectives and the implementation of the EMFF. This proposal hence aims at the sustainable management of Baltic Sea fish stocks by reducing redundant fleet capacities in the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. Moreover, the Member States and the Commission share the view that urgent action is needed to tackle the root causes of that critical environmental and social situation. This implies addressing with an increased determination the key environmental pressures in the Baltic Sea area that are preventing a recovery of Eastern Baltic cod, and to reduce the structural imbalance in the fleet capacity of fleets formerly targeting Eastern Baltic cod. This proposal therefore introduces the possibility to provide public support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping for fishermen and operators that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod and who are affected by the closure of the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. In order to ensure the consistency of fleet structural adaptation in the Baltic Sea with the conservation objectives laid down in the Multiannual Management Plan, support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through the scrapping of fishing vessels that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod should be strictly conditional and linked to the achievement of the adjustment targets and tools defined in the action plans for imbalanced segments. Finally, additional control measures should be introduced and the collection of relevant data improved. 
Revised version (Article 61 Fisheries local action groups):
2. The FLAGs shall propose a community–led local development strategy based on, at least, the elements set out in Article 60 of this Regulation and shall be responsible for its implementation. 3. The FLAGs shall: (a) broadly reflect the main focus of their strategy and the socioeconomic composition of the area through a balanced representation of the main stakeholders, including private sector, public sector and civil society; (b) ensure a significant representation of the fisheries and/or aquaculture sectors. The FLAGs shall: (a) broadly reflect the main focus of their strategy and the socioeconomic composition of the area through a balanced representation of the main stakeholders, including private sector, public sector and civil society; (b) ensure a significant representation of the fisheries and/or aquaculture sectors. 4. If the community–led local development strategy is supported by other Funds in addition to the EMFF, the selection body of the FLAGs for the EMFF supported operations shall also fulfil the requirements set out in paragraph 3. 5. FLAGs may also carry out additional tasks going beyond the minimum tasks provided for in Article 34(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013, where such tasks are delegated to them by the managing authority.
Article 62 Support from the EMFF for community–led local development
1. The following operations are eligible for support under this Section in accordance with Article 35 of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013: (a) preparatory support; (b) implementation of community–led local development strategies; (c) cooperation activities; (d) running costs and animation. 2. FLAGs may request the payment of an advance from the managing authority if such possibility is provided for in the operational programme. The amount of the advances shall not exceed 50 % of the public support related to the running costs and animation.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The military aggression of Russia against Ukraine since 24 February 2022 is impacting on operators of the fishery and aquaculture sector in the Union. The disruption of trade flows of key commodities for the fishery and aquaculture sector from Russia and Ukraine abruptly intensified the increase in prices of key inputs such as energy and raw materials. Trade between Ukraine and the Union is also severely affected by the unavailability of transport, as Ukrainian airports were rendered inoperable because of the Russian attack and all commercial shipping operations in Ukrainian ports have been suspended. The current crisis is likely to have serious consequences for the supply of grain, vegetable oils and white fish from Ukraine and Russia to the Union, leading to a substantial increase in fish feed prices and to shortages of key raw materials. Part of the Union fleet has ceased fishing because of the decrease in profitability of that activity and the impossibility of offsetting the increase in input costs such as soaring prices for energy. The combined impact of the cost increases and shortages is also being felt by the seafood farming and processing sectors. There is therefore significant market disruption, caused by substantial cost increases, and trade disruptions, requiring effective and efficient action.The military aggression of Russia against Ukraine also jeopardises the security of fishing activities carried out by Union fishers in neighbouring areas. This has led to a precautionary interruption of activities in certain areas. In the light of the above, the Commission is proposing an amendment to Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) by introducing specific measures to alleviate the consequences of the military aggression of Russia against Ukraine on fishing activities and to mitigate the effects of the market disruption caused by that military aggression on the supply chain of fishery and aquaculture products. Expenditure is still eligible for a contribution from that Fund until 31 December 2023. This proposal complements Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/500 of 25 March 2022 establishing the military aggression of Russia against Ukraine as the occurrence of an exceptional event causing a significant disruption of markets, thereby triggering crisis support measures under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). Packages of measures under both the EMFF and the EMFAF maximise the use of available financial resources to support the fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing sectors in the current crisis. 
Revised version (Article 62 Support from the EMFF for community–led local development):
2. FLAGs may request the payment of an advance from the managing authority if such possibility is provided for in the operational programme. The amount of the advances shall not exceed 50 % of the public support related to the running costs and animation.
Article 63 Implementation of community–led local development strategies
1. Support for the implementation of community–led local development strategies may be granted for the following objectives: (a) adding value, creating jobs, attracting young people and promoting innovation at all stages of the supply chain of fishery and aquaculture products; (b) supporting diversification inside or outside commercial fisheries, lifelong learning and job creation in fisheries and aquaculture areas; (c) enhancing and capitalising on the environmental assets of the fisheries and aquaculture areas, including operations to mitigate climate change; (d) promoting social well-being and cultural heritage in fisheries and aquaculture areas, including fisheries, aquaculture and maritime cultural heritage; (e) strengthening the role of fisheries communities in local development and the governance of local fisheries resources and maritime activities. 2. The support referred to in paragraph 1 may include measures provided for in Chapters I, II and IV of this Title, with the exception of Articles 66 and 67, provided that there is a clear rationale for their management at local level. Where support is granted for operations corresponding to those measures, the relevant conditions and the scales of contribution per operation laid down in Chapters I, II and IV of this Title shall apply.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The military aggression of Russia against Ukraine since 24 February 2022 is impacting on operators of the fishery and aquaculture sector in the Union. The disruption of trade flows of key commodities for the fishery and aquaculture sector from Russia and Ukraine abruptly intensified the increase in prices of key inputs such as energy and raw materials. Trade between Ukraine and the Union is also severely affected by the unavailability of transport, as Ukrainian airports were rendered inoperable because of the Russian attack and all commercial shipping operations in Ukrainian ports have been suspended. The current crisis is likely to have serious consequences for the supply of grain, vegetable oils and white fish from Ukraine and Russia to the Union, leading to a substantial increase in fish feed prices and to shortages of key raw materials. Part of the Union fleet has ceased fishing because of the decrease in profitability of that activity and the impossibility of offsetting the increase in input costs such as soaring prices for energy. The combined impact of the cost increases and shortages is also being felt by the seafood farming and processing sectors. There is therefore significant market disruption, caused by substantial cost increases, and trade disruptions, requiring effective and efficient action.The military aggression of Russia against Ukraine also jeopardises the security of fishing activities carried out by Union fishers in neighbouring areas. This has led to a precautionary interruption of activities in certain areas. In the light of the above, the Commission is proposing an amendment to Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) by introducing specific measures to alleviate the consequences of the military aggression of Russia against Ukraine on fishing activities and to mitigate the effects of the market disruption caused by that military aggression on the supply chain of fishery and aquaculture products. Expenditure is still eligible for a contribution from that Fund until 31 December 2023. This proposal complements Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/500 of 25 March 2022 establishing the military aggression of Russia against Ukraine as the occurrence of an exceptional event causing a significant disruption of markets, thereby triggering crisis support measures under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). Packages of measures under both the EMFF and the EMFAF maximise the use of available financial resources to support the fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing sectors in the current crisis. 
Revised version (Article 63 Implementation of community–led local development strategies):
2. The support referred to in paragraph 1 may include measures provided for in Chapters I, II and IV of this Title, with the exception of Articles 66 and 67, provided that there is a clear rationale for their management at local level. Where support is granted for operations corresponding to those measures, the relevant conditions and the scales of contribution per operation laid down in Chapters I, II and IV of this Title shall apply.
Article 64 Cooperation activities
1. Support referred to in Article 35(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 may be granted to: (a) inter-territorial or transnational cooperation projects; (b) preparatory technical support for inter-territorial and transnational cooperation projects, on the condition that FLAGs can demonstrate that they are preparing the implementation of a project. For the purposes of this Article, the term ‘inter-territorial cooperation’ means cooperation within a Member State, and the term ‘transnational cooperation’ means cooperation between territories in several Member States or cooperation between at least one territory of a Member State and one or more territories in third countries. 2. For the purposes of this Article, apart from other FLAGs, the partners of a FLAG under the EMFF may be a local public–private partnership that is implementing a community–led local development strategy within or outside the Union. 3. In cases where co–operation projects are not selected by the FLAGs, Member States shall establish an appropriate system for the purpose of facilitating cooperation projects. They shall make public the national or regional administrative procedures concerning the selection of transnational cooperation projects and a list of eligible costs at the latest two years after the date of approval of their operational programme. 4. Administrative decisions concerning cooperation projects shall take place no later than four months after the date of submission of the project. 5. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the approved transnational cooperation projects in accordance with Article 110.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The ecosystem in the Baltic Sea has been in a fragile state for decades. However, it was only in 2019 that scientists warned that the environmental conditions have a much more important impact on Eastern Baltic Cod than previously estimated. This situation is now causing a steep decline of Eastern Baltic cod. The situation is moreover unprecedented as the Eastern Baltic cod stock is the only stock in European waters for which ICES assesses natural mortality from environmental pressures to be about three times higher than fishing mortality. No other fish stock in European waters is in such a situation. The Eastern Baltic cod stock is not expected to recover before 2024, even with no fishing at all. Therefore given the above situation, this year, acting upon the best available scientific advice and in accordance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy and the Multiannual Plan for the Baltic Sea (hereafter “Baltic MAP”), the Commission adopted first emergency measures in July 2019 prohibiting the fishing of Eastern Baltic cod until year-end; and secondly, the Council decided in October 2019 on necessary and unprecedented fishing restrictions for 2020. However, a recovery can nevertheless not be expected for several years. These exceptional measures will therefore lead to redundant fleet capacities and to severe adverse socio-economic consequences for the related coastal communities and fishing businesses. The fisheries sector is a key component of the economic life of many coastal regions in the Baltic Sea. However, the quota uptake for Eastern Baltic cod has been relatively low (below 60%) for many years; in 2018 the uptake was only 40% and even lower in 2019 up until mid-July when the Commission’s emergency measures kicked in (19%). The relatively low quota uptake already in 2018 may well have been a first sign of the bad environmental situation and the high impact it has on Eastern Baltic cod. Commission analysis shows that the fleet segments with the highest dependency on Eastern Baltic cod encompass more than 300 vessels, mainly trawlers and netters in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, and to a lesser extent Denmark. Of these, only a minority seem resilient enough to survive a short-term – but not a medium or long-term – closure. The rest either suffer already from a poor situation that will be worsened by the closure or will see their profitability completely erode. These fleet segments are of significant socioeconomic importance, representing between roughly 20% and 50% of the respective national fleet in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, expressed in full-time equivalents. Given the total closure of any directed fishery for Eastern Baltic cod and the strong reductions agreed for other Baltic stocks by the Council on 14-15 October 2019, the vessels and fleet segments most heavily impacted by the closure of the targeted Eastern Baltic cod fishery will not all be able to redirect their fishing activities to other species. The closure will have a substantial impact for the Eastern Baltic cod fleets, with a strong negative impact in certain regions and coastal communities. Based on this and taking into account on-going contacts with the Member States on the significant negative impact of this situation on the fisheries sector and the fact that stakeholders cannot themselves mitigate the adverse consequences, the Commission concluded that contingency measures are necessary for the fisheries sector. The contingency measures consist in introducing a capacity ceiling for the Member States in the Baltic Sea whose fleets are affected by the adverse situation for Eastern Baltic cod and a capacity exit regime for fleets formerly fishing on Eastern Baltic cod. The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (hereafter “EMFF”) established by Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council is the fund for the EU’s maritime and fisheries policies for 2014-2020. 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; support coastal communities in diversifying their economies and finances projects that create new jobs and improve quality of life along European coasts. This fund should hence provide the possibility to the Member States affected by the exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod to grant financial support for achieving and maintaining a balance between the fleet capacity and the fishing opportunities by making financial support for permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping eligible under the EMFF 2014-2020. This support was granted until end of 2017 (and has been recently introduced for the multiannual plan in the western Mediterranean Sea). Introducing decommissioning in the form of scrapping again is an unforeseen measure in response to an exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod. The fund should therefore provide for additional flexibility in this exceptional situation by allowing the same Member States to redirect available appropriations for storage aid and Integrated Maritime Policy inside the financial envelope of each Member State to the permanent cessation of fishing activities with a view to reinforce the need to scrap vessels, while at the same time not negatively impacting the achievements of other CFP objectives and the implementation of the EMFF. This proposal hence aims at the sustainable management of Baltic Sea fish stocks by reducing redundant fleet capacities in the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. Moreover, the Member States and the Commission share the view that urgent action is needed to tackle the root causes of that critical environmental and social situation. This implies addressing with an increased determination the key environmental pressures in the Baltic Sea area that are preventing a recovery of Eastern Baltic cod, and to reduce the structural imbalance in the fleet capacity of fleets formerly targeting Eastern Baltic cod. This proposal therefore introduces the possibility to provide public support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping for fishermen and operators that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod and who are affected by the closure of the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. In order to ensure the consistency of fleet structural adaptation in the Baltic Sea with the conservation objectives laid down in the Multiannual Management Plan, support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through the scrapping of fishing vessels that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod should be strictly conditional and linked to the achievement of the adjustment targets and tools defined in the action plans for imbalanced segments. Finally, additional control measures should be introduced and the collection of relevant data improved. 
Revised version (Article 64 Cooperation activities):
(a) inter-territorial or transnational cooperation projects; (b) preparatory technical support for inter-territorial and transnational cooperation projects, on the condition that FLAGs can demonstrate that they are preparing the implementation of a project. For the purposes of this Article, the term ‘inter-territorial cooperation’ means cooperation within a Member State, and the term ‘transnational cooperation’ means cooperation between territories in several Member States or cooperation between at least one territory of a Member State and one or more territories in third countries. 2. For the purposes of this Article, apart from other FLAGs, the partners of a FLAG under the EMFF may be a local public–private partnership that is implementing a community–led local development strategy within or outside the Union. 3. In cases where co–operation projects are not selected by the FLAGs, Member States shall establish an appropriate system for the purpose of facilitating cooperation projects. They shall make public the national or regional administrative procedures concerning the selection of transnational cooperation projects and a list of eligible costs at the latest two years after the date of approval of their operational programme. 4. Administrative decisions concerning cooperation projects shall take place no later than four months after the date of submission of the project. 5. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the approved transnational cooperation projects in accordance with Article 110.
Article 65 Specific objectives
Support under this Chapter shall contribute to the achievement of the specific objectives under the Union priority set out in Article 6(5).
Article 66 Production and marketing plans
1. The EMFF shall support the preparation and implementation of production and marketing plans referred to in Article 28 of Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013. 2. Expenditure related to production and marketing plans shall be eligible for support from the EMFF only after approval by the competent authorities in the Member State of the annual report referred to in Article 28(5) of Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013. 3. Support granted per producer organisation per year under this Article shall not exceed 3 % of the average annual value of the production placed on the market by that producer organisation during the preceding three calendar years. For any newly recognised producer organisation, that support shall not exceed 3 % of the average annual value of the production placed on the market by the members of that organisation during the preceding three calendar years. 4. The Member State concerned may grant an advance of 50 % of the financial support after approval of the production and marketing plan in accordance with Article 28(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013. 5. The support referred to in paragraph 1 shall only be granted to producer organisations and associations of producers organisations.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The ecosystem in the Baltic Sea has been in a fragile state for decades. However, it was only in 2019 that scientists warned that the environmental conditions have a much more important impact on Eastern Baltic Cod than previously estimated. This situation is now causing a steep decline of Eastern Baltic cod. The situation is moreover unprecedented as the Eastern Baltic cod stock is the only stock in European waters for which ICES assesses natural mortality from environmental pressures to be about three times higher than fishing mortality. No other fish stock in European waters is in such a situation. The Eastern Baltic cod stock is not expected to recover before 2024, even with no fishing at all. Therefore given the above situation, this year, acting upon the best available scientific advice and in accordance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy and the Multiannual Plan for the Baltic Sea (hereafter “Baltic MAP”), the Commission adopted first emergency measures in July 2019 prohibiting the fishing of Eastern Baltic cod until year-end; and secondly, the Council decided in October 2019 on necessary and unprecedented fishing restrictions for 2020. However, a recovery can nevertheless not be expected for several years. These exceptional measures will therefore lead to redundant fleet capacities and to severe adverse socio-economic consequences for the related coastal communities and fishing businesses. The fisheries sector is a key component of the economic life of many coastal regions in the Baltic Sea. However, the quota uptake for Eastern Baltic cod has been relatively low (below 60%) for many years; in 2018 the uptake was only 40% and even lower in 2019 up until mid-July when the Commission’s emergency measures kicked in (19%). The relatively low quota uptake already in 2018 may well have been a first sign of the bad environmental situation and the high impact it has on Eastern Baltic cod. Commission analysis shows that the fleet segments with the highest dependency on Eastern Baltic cod encompass more than 300 vessels, mainly trawlers and netters in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, and to a lesser extent Denmark. Of these, only a minority seem resilient enough to survive a short-term – but not a medium or long-term – closure. The rest either suffer already from a poor situation that will be worsened by the closure or will see their profitability completely erode. These fleet segments are of significant socioeconomic importance, representing between roughly 20% and 50% of the respective national fleet in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, expressed in full-time equivalents. Given the total closure of any directed fishery for Eastern Baltic cod and the strong reductions agreed for other Baltic stocks by the Council on 14-15 October 2019, the vessels and fleet segments most heavily impacted by the closure of the targeted Eastern Baltic cod fishery will not all be able to redirect their fishing activities to other species. The closure will have a substantial impact for the Eastern Baltic cod fleets, with a strong negative impact in certain regions and coastal communities. Based on this and taking into account on-going contacts with the Member States on the significant negative impact of this situation on the fisheries sector and the fact that stakeholders cannot themselves mitigate the adverse consequences, the Commission concluded that contingency measures are necessary for the fisheries sector. The contingency measures consist in introducing a capacity ceiling for the Member States in the Baltic Sea whose fleets are affected by the adverse situation for Eastern Baltic cod and a capacity exit regime for fleets formerly fishing on Eastern Baltic cod. The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (hereafter “EMFF”) established by Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council is the fund for the EU’s maritime and fisheries policies for 2014-2020. 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; support coastal communities in diversifying their economies and finances projects that create new jobs and improve quality of life along European coasts. This fund should hence provide the possibility to the Member States affected by the exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod to grant financial support for achieving and maintaining a balance between the fleet capacity and the fishing opportunities by making financial support for permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping eligible under the EMFF 2014-2020. This support was granted until end of 2017 (and has been recently introduced for the multiannual plan in the western Mediterranean Sea). Introducing decommissioning in the form of scrapping again is an unforeseen measure in response to an exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod. The fund should therefore provide for additional flexibility in this exceptional situation by allowing the same Member States to redirect available appropriations for storage aid and Integrated Maritime Policy inside the financial envelope of each Member State to the permanent cessation of fishing activities with a view to reinforce the need to scrap vessels, while at the same time not negatively impacting the achievements of other CFP objectives and the implementation of the EMFF. This proposal hence aims at the sustainable management of Baltic Sea fish stocks by reducing redundant fleet capacities in the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. Moreover, the Member States and the Commission share the view that urgent action is needed to tackle the root causes of that critical environmental and social situation. This implies addressing with an increased determination the key environmental pressures in the Baltic Sea area that are preventing a recovery of Eastern Baltic cod, and to reduce the structural imbalance in the fleet capacity of fleets formerly targeting Eastern Baltic cod. This proposal therefore introduces the possibility to provide public support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping for fishermen and operators that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod and who are affected by the closure of the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. In order to ensure the consistency of fleet structural adaptation in the Baltic Sea with the conservation objectives laid down in the Multiannual Management Plan, support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through the scrapping of fishing vessels that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod should be strictly conditional and linked to the achievement of the adjustment targets and tools defined in the action plans for imbalanced segments. Finally, additional control measures should be introduced and the collection of relevant data improved. 
Revised version (Article 66 Production and marketing plans):
1. The EMFF shall support the preparation and implementation of production and marketing plans referred to in Article 28 of Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013. 2. Expenditure related to production and marketing plans shall be eligible for support from the EMFF only after approval by the competent authorities in the Member State of the annual report referred to in Article 28(5) of Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013. 3. Support granted per producer organisation per year under this Article shall not exceed 12 % of the average annual value of the production placed on the market by that producer organisation during the preceding three calendar years. For a newly recognised producer organisation, that support shall not exceed 12 % of the average annual value of the production placed on the market by the members of that organisation during the preceding three calendar years. 4. The Member State concerned may grant an advance of between 50 % and 100 % of the financial support after approval of the production and marketing plan in accordance with Article 28(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013. 5. The support referred to in paragraph 1 shall only be granted to producer organisations and associations of producers organisations.
Article 67 Storage aid
1. The EMFF may support compensation to recognised producer organisations and associations of producers organisations which store fishery products listed in Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013, provided that those products are stored in accordance with Articles 30 and 31 of that Regulation and subject to the following conditions: (a) the amount of the storage aid does not exceed the amount of the technical and financial costs of the actions required for the stabilisation and storage of the products in question; (b) the quantities eligible for storage aid do not exceed 15 % of the annual quantities of the products concerned put up for sale by the producer organisation; (c) the financial support per year does not exceed 2 % of the average annual value of the production placed on the market by the members of the producer organisation in the period 2009-2011. For the purposes of point (c) of the first subparagraph, where a member of the producer organisation did not have any production placed on the market in the period 2009 to 2011, the average annual value of production placed on the market in the first three years of production of that member shall be taken into account. 2. The support referred to in paragraph 1 shall end by 31 December 2018. 3. The support referred to in paragraph 1 shall only be granted once the products are released for human consumption. 4. Member States shall fix the amount of the technical and financial costs applicable in their territories as follows: (a) technical costs shall be calculated each year on the basis of direct costs relating to the actions required in order to stabilise and store the products in question; (b) financial costs shall be calculated each year using the interest rate set annually in each Member State; These technical and financial costs shall be made publicly available. 5. Member States shall carry out controls to ensure that the products benefiting from storage aid fulfil the conditions laid down in this Article. For the purposes of such controls, beneficiaries of storage aid shall keep stock records for each category of products entered into storage and later reintroduced onto the market for human consumption.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The ecosystem in the Baltic Sea has been in a fragile state for decades. However, it was only in 2019 that scientists warned that the environmental conditions have a much more important impact on Eastern Baltic Cod than previously estimated. This situation is now causing a steep decline of Eastern Baltic cod. The situation is moreover unprecedented as the Eastern Baltic cod stock is the only stock in European waters for which ICES assesses natural mortality from environmental pressures to be about three times higher than fishing mortality. No other fish stock in European waters is in such a situation. The Eastern Baltic cod stock is not expected to recover before 2024, even with no fishing at all. Therefore given the above situation, this year, acting upon the best available scientific advice and in accordance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy and the Multiannual Plan for the Baltic Sea (hereafter “Baltic MAP”), the Commission adopted first emergency measures in July 2019 prohibiting the fishing of Eastern Baltic cod until year-end; and secondly, the Council decided in October 2019 on necessary and unprecedented fishing restrictions for 2020. However, a recovery can nevertheless not be expected for several years. These exceptional measures will therefore lead to redundant fleet capacities and to severe adverse socio-economic consequences for the related coastal communities and fishing businesses. The fisheries sector is a key component of the economic life of many coastal regions in the Baltic Sea. However, the quota uptake for Eastern Baltic cod has been relatively low (below 60%) for many years; in 2018 the uptake was only 40% and even lower in 2019 up until mid-July when the Commission’s emergency measures kicked in (19%). The relatively low quota uptake already in 2018 may well have been a first sign of the bad environmental situation and the high impact it has on Eastern Baltic cod. Commission analysis shows that the fleet segments with the highest dependency on Eastern Baltic cod encompass more than 300 vessels, mainly trawlers and netters in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, and to a lesser extent Denmark. Of these, only a minority seem resilient enough to survive a short-term – but not a medium or long-term – closure. The rest either suffer already from a poor situation that will be worsened by the closure or will see their profitability completely erode. These fleet segments are of significant socioeconomic importance, representing between roughly 20% and 50% of the respective national fleet in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, expressed in full-time equivalents. Given the total closure of any directed fishery for Eastern Baltic cod and the strong reductions agreed for other Baltic stocks by the Council on 14-15 October 2019, the vessels and fleet segments most heavily impacted by the closure of the targeted Eastern Baltic cod fishery will not all be able to redirect their fishing activities to other species. The closure will have a substantial impact for the Eastern Baltic cod fleets, with a strong negative impact in certain regions and coastal communities. Based on this and taking into account on-going contacts with the Member States on the significant negative impact of this situation on the fisheries sector and the fact that stakeholders cannot themselves mitigate the adverse consequences, the Commission concluded that contingency measures are necessary for the fisheries sector. The contingency measures consist in introducing a capacity ceiling for the Member States in the Baltic Sea whose fleets are affected by the adverse situation for Eastern Baltic cod and a capacity exit regime for fleets formerly fishing on Eastern Baltic cod. The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (hereafter “EMFF”) established by Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council is the fund for the EU’s maritime and fisheries policies for 2014-2020. 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; support coastal communities in diversifying their economies and finances projects that create new jobs and improve quality of life along European coasts. This fund should hence provide the possibility to the Member States affected by the exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod to grant financial support for achieving and maintaining a balance between the fleet capacity and the fishing opportunities by making financial support for permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping eligible under the EMFF 2014-2020. This support was granted until end of 2017 (and has been recently introduced for the multiannual plan in the western Mediterranean Sea). Introducing decommissioning in the form of scrapping again is an unforeseen measure in response to an exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod. The fund should therefore provide for additional flexibility in this exceptional situation by allowing the same Member States to redirect available appropriations for storage aid and Integrated Maritime Policy inside the financial envelope of each Member State to the permanent cessation of fishing activities with a view to reinforce the need to scrap vessels, while at the same time not negatively impacting the achievements of other CFP objectives and the implementation of the EMFF. This proposal hence aims at the sustainable management of Baltic Sea fish stocks by reducing redundant fleet capacities in the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. Moreover, the Member States and the Commission share the view that urgent action is needed to tackle the root causes of that critical environmental and social situation. This implies addressing with an increased determination the key environmental pressures in the Baltic Sea area that are preventing a recovery of Eastern Baltic cod, and to reduce the structural imbalance in the fleet capacity of fleets formerly targeting Eastern Baltic cod. This proposal therefore introduces the possibility to provide public support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping for fishermen and operators that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod and who are affected by the closure of the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. In order to ensure the consistency of fleet structural adaptation in the Baltic Sea with the conservation objectives laid down in the Multiannual Management Plan, support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through the scrapping of fishing vessels that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod should be strictly conditional and linked to the achievement of the adjustment targets and tools defined in the action plans for imbalanced segments. Finally, additional control measures should be introduced and the collection of relevant data improved. 
Revised version (Article 67 Storage aid):
1. Where needed to respond to the COVID‐19 outbreak, the EMFF may support compensation to recognised producer organisations and associations of producer organisations which store fishery or aquaculture products listed in Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013 or products falling within CN code 0302 as listed in point (a) of Annex I to that Regulation, provided that those products are stored in accordance with Articles 30 and 31 of that Regulation, and subject to the following conditions: (a) the amount of the storage aid does not exceed the amount of the technical and financial costs of the actions required for the stabilisation and storage of the products in question; (b) the quantities eligible for storage aid do not exceed 25 % of the annual quantities of the products concerned put up for sale by the producer organisation; (c) the financial support per year does not exceed 20 % of the average annual value of the production placed on the market by the members of the producer organisation in the period 2017–2019. For the purposes of point (c) of the first subparagraph, where a member of the producer organisation did not place any production on the market in the period 2017 to 2019, the average annual value of production placed on the market in the first three years of production of that member shall be taken into account. the financial support per year does not exceed 20 % of the average annual value of the production placed on the market by the members of the producer organisation in the period 2017–2019. For the purposes of point (c) of the first subparagraph, where a member of the producer organisation did not place any production on the market in the period 2017 to 2019, the average annual value of production placed on the market in the first three years of production of that member shall be taken into account. 2. The support referred to in paragraph 1 shall end on 31 December 2020. In accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 65(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 and by way of derogation from the first subparagraph thereof, expenditure for operations supported under this Article shall be eligible as of 1 February 2020. 3. The support referred to in paragraph 1 shall only be granted once the products are released for human consumption. 4. Member States shall fix the amount of the technical and financial costs applicable in their territories as follows: (a) technical costs shall be calculated each year on the basis of direct costs relating to the actions required in order to stabilise and store the products in question; (b) financial costs shall be calculated each year using the interest rate set annually in each Member State; Member States shall fix the amount of the technical and financial costs applicable in their territories as follows: (a) technical costs shall be calculated each year on the basis of direct costs relating to the actions required in order to stabilise and store the products in question; (b) financial costs shall be calculated each year using the interest rate set annually in each Member State; These technical and financial costs shall be made publicly available. 5. Member States shall carry out controls to ensure that the products benefiting from storage aid fulfil the conditions laid down in this Article. For the purposes of such controls, beneficiaries of storage aid shall keep stock records for each category of products entered into storage and later reintroduced onto the market for human consumption.
Article 68 Marketing measures
1. The EMFF may support marketing measures for fishery and aquaculture products which are aimed at: (a) creating producer organisations, associations of producer organisations or inter-branch organisations to be recognised in accordance with Section II of Chapter II of Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013; (b) finding new markets and improving the conditions for the placing on the market of fishery and aquaculture products, including: (i) species with marketing potential; (ii) unwanted catches landed from commercial stocks in accordance with technical measures, Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 and Article 8(2)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013; (iii) fishery and aquaculture products obtained using methods with low impact on the environment, or organic aquaculture products within the meaning of Regulation (EC) No 834/2007; (c) promoting the quality and the value added by facilitating: (i) the application for registration of a given product and the adaptation of concerned operators to the relevant compliance and certification requirements in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 19 ); (ii) the certification and the promotion of sustainable fishery and aquaculture products, including products from small–scale coastal fishing, and of environmentally-friendly processing methods; (iii) the direct marketing of fishery products by small–scale coastal fishermen or by on–foot fishermen; (iv) the presentation and packaging of products; (d) contributing to the transparency of production and the markets and conducting market surveys and studies on the Union’s dependence on imports; (e) contributing to the traceability of fishery or aquaculture products and, where relevant, the development of a Union–wide ecolabel for fishery and aquaculture products as referred to in Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013; (f) drawing up standard contracts for SMEs, which are compatible with Union law; (g) conducting regional, national or transnational communication and promotional campaigns, to raise public awareness of sustainable fishery and aquaculture products. 2. The operations referred to in paragraph 1 may include the production, processing and marketing activities along the supply chain. The operations referred to in point (g) of paragraph 1 shall not be aimed at commercial brands.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The ecosystem in the Baltic Sea has been in a fragile state for decades. However, it was only in 2019 that scientists warned that the environmental conditions have a much more important impact on Eastern Baltic Cod than previously estimated. This situation is now causing a steep decline of Eastern Baltic cod. The situation is moreover unprecedented as the Eastern Baltic cod stock is the only stock in European waters for which ICES assesses natural mortality from environmental pressures to be about three times higher than fishing mortality. No other fish stock in European waters is in such a situation. The Eastern Baltic cod stock is not expected to recover before 2024, even with no fishing at all. Therefore given the above situation, this year, acting upon the best available scientific advice and in accordance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy and the Multiannual Plan for the Baltic Sea (hereafter “Baltic MAP”), the Commission adopted first emergency measures in July 2019 prohibiting the fishing of Eastern Baltic cod until year-end; and secondly, the Council decided in October 2019 on necessary and unprecedented fishing restrictions for 2020. However, a recovery can nevertheless not be expected for several years. These exceptional measures will therefore lead to redundant fleet capacities and to severe adverse socio-economic consequences for the related coastal communities and fishing businesses. The fisheries sector is a key component of the economic life of many coastal regions in the Baltic Sea. However, the quota uptake for Eastern Baltic cod has been relatively low (below 60%) for many years; in 2018 the uptake was only 40% and even lower in 2019 up until mid-July when the Commission’s emergency measures kicked in (19%). The relatively low quota uptake already in 2018 may well have been a first sign of the bad environmental situation and the high impact it has on Eastern Baltic cod. Commission analysis shows that the fleet segments with the highest dependency on Eastern Baltic cod encompass more than 300 vessels, mainly trawlers and netters in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, and to a lesser extent Denmark. Of these, only a minority seem resilient enough to survive a short-term – but not a medium or long-term – closure. The rest either suffer already from a poor situation that will be worsened by the closure or will see their profitability completely erode. These fleet segments are of significant socioeconomic importance, representing between roughly 20% and 50% of the respective national fleet in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, expressed in full-time equivalents. Given the total closure of any directed fishery for Eastern Baltic cod and the strong reductions agreed for other Baltic stocks by the Council on 14-15 October 2019, the vessels and fleet segments most heavily impacted by the closure of the targeted Eastern Baltic cod fishery will not all be able to redirect their fishing activities to other species. The closure will have a substantial impact for the Eastern Baltic cod fleets, with a strong negative impact in certain regions and coastal communities. Based on this and taking into account on-going contacts with the Member States on the significant negative impact of this situation on the fisheries sector and the fact that stakeholders cannot themselves mitigate the adverse consequences, the Commission concluded that contingency measures are necessary for the fisheries sector. The contingency measures consist in introducing a capacity ceiling for the Member States in the Baltic Sea whose fleets are affected by the adverse situation for Eastern Baltic cod and a capacity exit regime for fleets formerly fishing on Eastern Baltic cod. The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (hereafter “EMFF”) established by Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council is the fund for the EU’s maritime and fisheries policies for 2014-2020. 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; support coastal communities in diversifying their economies and finances projects that create new jobs and improve quality of life along European coasts. This fund should hence provide the possibility to the Member States affected by the exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod to grant financial support for achieving and maintaining a balance between the fleet capacity and the fishing opportunities by making financial support for permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping eligible under the EMFF 2014-2020. This support was granted until end of 2017 (and has been recently introduced for the multiannual plan in the western Mediterranean Sea). Introducing decommissioning in the form of scrapping again is an unforeseen measure in response to an exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod. The fund should therefore provide for additional flexibility in this exceptional situation by allowing the same Member States to redirect available appropriations for storage aid and Integrated Maritime Policy inside the financial envelope of each Member State to the permanent cessation of fishing activities with a view to reinforce the need to scrap vessels, while at the same time not negatively impacting the achievements of other CFP objectives and the implementation of the EMFF. This proposal hence aims at the sustainable management of Baltic Sea fish stocks by reducing redundant fleet capacities in the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. Moreover, the Member States and the Commission share the view that urgent action is needed to tackle the root causes of that critical environmental and social situation. This implies addressing with an increased determination the key environmental pressures in the Baltic Sea area that are preventing a recovery of Eastern Baltic cod, and to reduce the structural imbalance in the fleet capacity of fleets formerly targeting Eastern Baltic cod. This proposal therefore introduces the possibility to provide public support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping for fishermen and operators that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod and who are affected by the closure of the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. In order to ensure the consistency of fleet structural adaptation in the Baltic Sea with the conservation objectives laid down in the Multiannual Management Plan, support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through the scrapping of fishing vessels that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod should be strictly conditional and linked to the achievement of the adjustment targets and tools defined in the action plans for imbalanced segments. Finally, additional control measures should be introduced and the collection of relevant data improved. 
Revised version (Article 68 Marketing measures):
The EMFF may support marketing measures for fishery and aquaculture products which are aimed at: (a) creating producer organisations, associations of producer organisations or inter-branch organisations to be recognised in accordance with Section II of Chapter II of Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013; finding new markets and improving the conditions for the placing on the market of fishery and aquaculture products, including: (i) species with marketing potential; (iii) fishery and aquaculture products obtained using methods with low impact on the environment, or organic aquaculture products within the meaning of Regulation (EC) No 834/2007; promoting the quality and the value added by facilitating: (i) the application for registration of a given product and the adaptation of concerned operators to the relevant compliance and certification requirements in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 21 ); (ii) the certification and the promotion of sustainable fishery and aquaculture products, including products from small–scale coastal fishing, and of environmentally-friendly processing methods; (iii) the direct marketing of fishery products by small–scale coastal fishermen or by on–foot fishermen; (iv) the presentation and packaging of products; (d) contributing to the transparency of production and the markets and conducting market surveys and studies on the Union’s dependence on imports; (e) contributing to the traceability of fishery or aquaculture products and, where relevant, the development of a Union–wide ecolabel for fishery and aquaculture products as referred to in Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013; (f) drawing up standard contracts for SMEs, which are compatible with Union law; (g) conducting regional, national or transnational communication and promotional campaigns, to raise public awareness of sustainable fishery and aquaculture products. 2. The operations referred to in paragraph 1 may include the production, processing and marketing activities along the supply chain. The operations referred to in point (g) of paragraph 1 shall not be aimed at commercial brands.
Article 69 Processing of fishery and aquaculture products
1. The EMFF may support investments in the processing of fishery and aquaculture products that: (a) contribute to energy saving or reducing the impact on the environment, including waste treatment; (b) improve safety, hygiene, health and working conditions; (c) support the processing of catches of commercial fish that cannot be destined for human consumption; (d) relate to the processing of by-products resulting from main processing activities; (e) relate to the processing of organic aquaculture products pursuant to Articles 6 and 7 of Regulation (EC) No 834/2007; (f) lead to new or improved products, new or improved processes, or new or improved management and organisation systems. 2. As regards enterprises other than SMEs, the support referred to in paragraph 1 shall only be granted through the financial instruments provided for in Title IV of Part Two of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The ecosystem in the Baltic Sea has been in a fragile state for decades. However, it was only in 2019 that scientists warned that the environmental conditions have a much more important impact on Eastern Baltic Cod than previously estimated. This situation is now causing a steep decline of Eastern Baltic cod. The situation is moreover unprecedented as the Eastern Baltic cod stock is the only stock in European waters for which ICES assesses natural mortality from environmental pressures to be about three times higher than fishing mortality. No other fish stock in European waters is in such a situation. The Eastern Baltic cod stock is not expected to recover before 2024, even with no fishing at all. Therefore given the above situation, this year, acting upon the best available scientific advice and in accordance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy and the Multiannual Plan for the Baltic Sea (hereafter “Baltic MAP”), the Commission adopted first emergency measures in July 2019 prohibiting the fishing of Eastern Baltic cod until year-end; and secondly, the Council decided in October 2019 on necessary and unprecedented fishing restrictions for 2020. However, a recovery can nevertheless not be expected for several years. These exceptional measures will therefore lead to redundant fleet capacities and to severe adverse socio-economic consequences for the related coastal communities and fishing businesses. The fisheries sector is a key component of the economic life of many coastal regions in the Baltic Sea. However, the quota uptake for Eastern Baltic cod has been relatively low (below 60%) for many years; in 2018 the uptake was only 40% and even lower in 2019 up until mid-July when the Commission’s emergency measures kicked in (19%). The relatively low quota uptake already in 2018 may well have been a first sign of the bad environmental situation and the high impact it has on Eastern Baltic cod. Commission analysis shows that the fleet segments with the highest dependency on Eastern Baltic cod encompass more than 300 vessels, mainly trawlers and netters in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, and to a lesser extent Denmark. Of these, only a minority seem resilient enough to survive a short-term – but not a medium or long-term – closure. The rest either suffer already from a poor situation that will be worsened by the closure or will see their profitability completely erode. These fleet segments are of significant socioeconomic importance, representing between roughly 20% and 50% of the respective national fleet in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, expressed in full-time equivalents. Given the total closure of any directed fishery for Eastern Baltic cod and the strong reductions agreed for other Baltic stocks by the Council on 14-15 October 2019, the vessels and fleet segments most heavily impacted by the closure of the targeted Eastern Baltic cod fishery will not all be able to redirect their fishing activities to other species. The closure will have a substantial impact for the Eastern Baltic cod fleets, with a strong negative impact in certain regions and coastal communities. Based on this and taking into account on-going contacts with the Member States on the significant negative impact of this situation on the fisheries sector and the fact that stakeholders cannot themselves mitigate the adverse consequences, the Commission concluded that contingency measures are necessary for the fisheries sector. The contingency measures consist in introducing a capacity ceiling for the Member States in the Baltic Sea whose fleets are affected by the adverse situation for Eastern Baltic cod and a capacity exit regime for fleets formerly fishing on Eastern Baltic cod. The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (hereafter “EMFF”) established by Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council is the fund for the EU’s maritime and fisheries policies for 2014-2020. 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; support coastal communities in diversifying their economies and finances projects that create new jobs and improve quality of life along European coasts. This fund should hence provide the possibility to the Member States affected by the exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod to grant financial support for achieving and maintaining a balance between the fleet capacity and the fishing opportunities by making financial support for permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping eligible under the EMFF 2014-2020. This support was granted until end of 2017 (and has been recently introduced for the multiannual plan in the western Mediterranean Sea). Introducing decommissioning in the form of scrapping again is an unforeseen measure in response to an exceptional situation of Eastern Baltic cod. The fund should therefore provide for additional flexibility in this exceptional situation by allowing the same Member States to redirect available appropriations for storage aid and Integrated Maritime Policy inside the financial envelope of each Member State to the permanent cessation of fishing activities with a view to reinforce the need to scrap vessels, while at the same time not negatively impacting the achievements of other CFP objectives and the implementation of the EMFF. This proposal hence aims at the sustainable management of Baltic Sea fish stocks by reducing redundant fleet capacities in the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. Moreover, the Member States and the Commission share the view that urgent action is needed to tackle the root causes of that critical environmental and social situation. This implies addressing with an increased determination the key environmental pressures in the Baltic Sea area that are preventing a recovery of Eastern Baltic cod, and to reduce the structural imbalance in the fleet capacity of fleets formerly targeting Eastern Baltic cod. This proposal therefore introduces the possibility to provide public support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through scrapping for fishermen and operators that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod and who are affected by the closure of the Eastern Baltic cod fishery. In order to ensure the consistency of fleet structural adaptation in the Baltic Sea with the conservation objectives laid down in the Multiannual Management Plan, support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities through the scrapping of fishing vessels that have significant dependence on Eastern Baltic cod should be strictly conditional and linked to the achievement of the adjustment targets and tools defined in the action plans for imbalanced segments. Finally, additional control measures should be introduced and the collection of relevant data improved. 
Revised version (Article 69 Processing of fishery and aquaculture products):
The EMFF may support investments in the processing of fishery and aquaculture products that: (a) contribute to energy saving or reducing the impact on the environment, including waste treatment; (b) improve safety, hygiene, health and working conditions; (c) support the processing of catches of commercial fish that cannot be destined for human consumption; (d) relate to the processing of by-products resulting from main processing activities; (e) relate to the processing of organic aquaculture products pursuant to Articles 6 and 7 of Regulation (EC) No 834/2007; (f) lead to new or improved products, new or improved processes, or new or improved management and organisation systems. 2. As regards enterprises other than SMEs, the support referred to in paragraph 1 shall only be granted through the financial instruments provided for in Title IV of Part Two of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013. 3. The EMFF may support granting working capital and compensation to processing enterprises within the scope set out in the second subparagraph of Article 55(1) for aquaculture farmers.