Article 70 Compensation regime
1. The EMFF may support the compensation of additional costs incurred by operators in the fishing, farming, processing and marketing of certain fishery and aquaculture products from the outermost regions referred to in Article 349 TFEU. 2. Each Member State concerned shall determine, for the regions referred to in paragraph 1, the list of fishery and aquaculture products and the quantity of those products eligible for compensation. 3. When establishing the list and the quantities referred to in paragraph 2, Member States shall take into account all relevant factors, in particular the need to ensure that the compensation is fully compatible with the CFP rules. 4. The compensation shall not be granted for fishery and aquaculture products: (a) caught by third country vessels, with the exception of fishing vessels which fly the flag of Venezuela and operate in Union waters; (b) caught by Union fishing vessels that are not registered in a port of one of the regions referred to in paragraph 1; (c) imported from third countries. 5. Point (b) of paragraph 4 shall not apply if the existing capacity of the processing industry in the outermost region concerned exceeds the quantity of raw material supplied in accordance with the compensation plan of the region concerned. 6. The following operators shall be eligible for compensation: (a) natural or legal persons using means of production to obtain fishery or aquaculture products with a view to placing them on the market; (b) the owners or operators of vessels that are registered in the ports of the regions referred to in paragraph 1 and that are operating in those regions, or associations of such owners or operators; (c) the operators in the processing and marketing sector or associations of such operators.
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 70 Compensation regime):
1. The EMFF may support the compensation of additional costs incurred by operators in the fishing, farming, processing and marketing of certain fishery and aquaculture products from the outermost regions referred to in Article 349 TFEU. The EMFF may also support measures to compensate the economic losses resulting from the COVID‐19 outbreak, in particular those resulting from the deterioration in the price of fish or from increased storage cost. 2. Each Member State concerned shall determine, for the regions referred to in paragraph 1, the list of fishery and aquaculture products and the quantity of those products eligible for compensation. 3. When establishing the list and the quantities referred to in paragraph 2, Member States shall take into account all relevant factors, in particular the need to ensure that the compensation is fully compatible with the CFP rules. The compensation shall not be granted for fishery and aquaculture products: (a) caught by third country vessels, with the exception of fishing vessels which fly the flag of Venezuela and operate in Union waters; (b) caught by Union fishing vessels that are not registered in a port of one of the regions referred to in paragraph 1; (c) imported from third countries. 5. Point (b) of paragraph 4 shall not apply if the existing capacity of the processing industry in the outermost region concerned exceeds the quantity of raw material supplied in accordance with the compensation plan of the region concerned. The following operators shall be eligible for compensation: (a) natural or legal persons using means of production to obtain fishery or aquaculture products with a view to placing them on the market; (b) the owners or operators of vessels that are registered in the ports of the regions referred to in paragraph 1 and that are operating in those regions, or associations of such owners or operators; (c) the operators in the processing and marketing sector or associations of such operators.
Article 71 Calculation of the compensation
The compensation shall be paid to the operators referred to in Article 70(6) carrying out activities in the regions referred to in Article 70(1) and shall take into account: (a) for each fishery or aquaculture product or category of products, the additional costs resulting from the specific handicaps of the regions concerned; and (b) any other type of public intervention affecting the level of additional costs.
Article 72 Compensation plan
1. The Member States concerned shall submit to the Commission a compensation plan for each region referred to in Article 70(1). That plan shall include the list, and quantities of fishery and aquaculture products and the type of operators referred to in Article 70, the level of compensation referred to in Article 71 and the managing authority referred to in Article 97. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts setting out its decision whether to approve such compensation plans. 2. Member States may amend the content of the compensation plan referred to in paragraph 1. Member States shall submit such amendments to the Commission. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts setting out its decision whether to approve those amendments. 3. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts defining the structure of the compensation plan. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 127(3). 4. The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts, in accordance with Article 126, laying down the criteria for the calculation of the additional costs resulting from the specific handicaps of the regions concerned.
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 72 Compensation plan):
1. The Member States concerned shall submit to the Commission a compensation plan for each region referred to in Article 70(1). That plan shall include the list, and quantities of fishery and aquaculture products and the type of operators referred to in Article 70, the level of compensation referred to in Article 71 and the managing authority referred to in Article 97. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts setting out its decision whether to approve such compensation plans. 2. Member States may amend the content of the compensation plan referred to in paragraph 1. Member States shall submit such amendments to the Commission. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts setting out its decision whether to approve those amendments. Where the amendments concern measures to compensate the economic losses resulting from the COVID‐19 outbreak under the second subparagraph of Article 70(1), the Commission shall adopt such implementing acts within 15 days of the submission of the amendment. Notwithstanding paragraph 4 of this Article, the implementing acts concerning measures to compensate the economic losses resulting from the COVID‐19 outbreak shall also set out the methods of calculation of the additional costs and the methods of implementation by the Member States. 3. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts defining the structure of the compensation plan. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 127(3). 4. The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts, in accordance with Article 126, laying down the criteria for the calculation of the additional costs resulting from the specific handicaps of the regions concerned.
Article 73 State aid for implementing compensation plans
Member States may grant additional financing for the implementation of the compensation plans referred to in Article 72. In such cases, Member States shall notify the Commission of the State aid which the Commission may approve in accordance with this Regulation as part of those plans. State aid thus notified shall be regarded as notified within the meaning of the first sentence of Article 108(3) TFEU.
Article 74 Geographical scope
By way of derogation from Article 2, this Chapter shall also apply to operations carried out outside the territory of the Union.
Article 75 Specific objectives
Support under this Chapter shall contribute to achieving the specific objectives under the Union priority set out in Article 6(3).
Article 76 Control and enforcement
1. The EMFF may support the implementation of a Union control, inspection and enforcement system as provided for in Article 36 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 and further specified in Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. 2. In particular, the following types of operations shall be eligible: (a) the purchase, installation and development of technology, including computer hardware and software, vessel detection systems (VDS), closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems and IT networks enabling the gathering, administration, validation, analysis, risk management, presentation (by means of the websites related to control) and exchange of, and the development of sampling methods for, data related to fisheries, as well as interconnection to cross-sectoral data exchange systems; (b) the development, purchase and installation of the components, including computer hardware and software, that are necessary to ensure data transmission from actors involved in fishing and the marketing of fishery products to the relevant Member State and Union authorities, including the necessary components for electronic recording and reporting systems (ERS), vessel monitoring systems (VMS) and automatic identification systems (AIS) used for control purposes; (c) the development, purchase and installation of the components, including computer hardware and software, which are necessary to ensure the traceability of fishery and aquaculture products, as referred to in Article 58 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009; (d) the implementation of programmes for exchanging data between Member States and for analysing them; (e) the modernisation and purchase of patrol vessels, aircrafts and helicopters, provided that they are used for fisheries control for at least 60 % of the total period of use per year; (f) the purchase of other control means, including devices to enable the measurement of engine power and weighing equipment; (g) the development of innovative control and monitoring systems and the implementation of pilot projects related to fisheries control, including fish DNA analysis or the development of websites related to control; (h) training and exchange programmes, including between Member States, of personnel responsible for the monitoring, control and surveillance of fisheries activities; (i) cost/benefit analyses and assessments of audits performed and expenditure incurred by competent authorities in carrying out monitoring, control and surveillance; (j) initiatives, including seminars and media tools, aimed at enhancing awareness, among both fishermen and other players such as inspectors, public prosecutors and judges, as well as among the general public, of the need to fight illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and of the implementation of the CFP rules; (k) operational costs incurred in carrying out more stringent control for stocks subject to specific control and inspection programmes established in accordance with Article 95 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 and subject to control coordination in accordance with Article 15 of Council Regulation (EC) No 768/2005 ( 20 ); (l) programmes linked to the implementation of an action plan established in accordance with Article 102(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, including any operational costs incurred. 3. The operations listed in points (h) to (1) of paragraph 2 shall only be eligible for support if they relate to control activities carried out by a public authority. 4. In the case of the operations listed in points (d) and (h) of paragraph 2, the Member States concerned shall designate the managing authorities responsible for the operation.
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 76 Control and enforcement):
1. The EMFF may support the implementation of a Union control, inspection and enforcement system as provided for in Article 36 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 and further specified in Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. In particular, the following types of operations shall be eligible: (a) the purchase, installation and development of technology, including computer hardware and software, vessel detection systems (VDS), closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems and IT networks enabling the gathering, administration, validation, analysis, risk management, presentation (by means of the websites related to control) and exchange of, and the development of sampling methods for, data related to fisheries, as well as interconnection to cross-sectoral data exchange systems; (c) the development, purchase and installation of the components, including computer hardware and software, which are necessary to ensure the traceability of fishery and aquaculture products, as referred to in Article 58 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009; (d) the implementation of programmes for exchanging data between Member States and for analysing them; (e) the modernisation and purchase of patrol vessels, aircrafts and helicopters, provided that they are used for fisheries control for at least 60 % of the total period of use per year; (f) the purchase of other control means, including devices to enable the measurement of engine power and weighing equipment; (g) the development of innovative control and monitoring systems and the implementation of pilot projects related to fisheries control, including fish DNA analysis or the development of websites related to control; (h) training and exchange programmes, including between Member States, of personnel responsible for the monitoring, control and surveillance of fisheries activities; (i) cost/benefit analyses and assessments of audits performed and expenditure incurred by competent authorities in carrying out monitoring, control and surveillance; (j) initiatives, including seminars and media tools, aimed at enhancing awareness, among both fishermen and other players such as inspectors, public prosecutors and judges, as well as among the general public, of the need to fight illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and of the implementation of the CFP rules; operational costs incurred in carrying out more stringent control for stocks subject to specific control and inspection programmes established in accordance with Article 95 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 and subject to control coordination in accordance with Article 15 of Council Regulation (EC) No 768/2005 ( 22 ); (l) programmes linked to the implementation of an action plan established in accordance with Article 102(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, including any operational costs incurred. 3. The operations listed in points (h) to (1) of paragraph 2 shall only be eligible for support if they relate to control activities carried out by a public authority. 4. In the case of the operations listed in points (d) and (h) of paragraph 2, the Member States concerned shall designate the managing authorities responsible for the operation.
Article 77 Data collection
1. The EMFF shall support the collection, management and use of data, as provided for in Article 25(1) and (2) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 and further specified in Regulation (EC) No 199/2008. 2. In particular, the following types of operations shall be eligible: (a) the collection, management and use of data for the purpose of scientific analysis and implementation of the CFP; (b) national, transnational and subnational multiannual sampling programmes, provided that they relate to stocks covered by the CFP; (c) at-sea monitoring of commercial and recreational fisheries, including monitoring of by-catch of marine organisms such as marine mammals and birds; (d) research surveys at sea; (e) the participation of representatives of Member States and regional authorities in regional coordination meetings, meetings of regional fisheries management organisations of which the Union is a contracting party or an observer, or meetings of international bodies responsible for providing scientific advice; (f) the improvement of data collection and data management systems and the implementation of pilot studies to improve existing data collection and data management systems.
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 77 Data collection):
In particular, the following types of operations shall be eligible: (a) the collection, management and use of data for the purpose of scientific analysis and implementation of the CFP; (b) national, transnational and subnational multiannual sampling programmes, provided that they relate to stocks covered by the CFP; (c) at-sea monitoring of commercial and recreational fisheries, including monitoring of by-catch of marine organisms such as marine mammals and birds; (d) research surveys at sea; (e) the participation of representatives of Member States and regional authorities in regional coordination meetings, meetings of regional fisheries management organisations of which the Union is a contracting party or an observer, or meetings of international bodies responsible for providing scientific advice; (f) the improvement of data collection and data management systems and the implementation of pilot studies to improve existing data collection and data management systems.
Article 78 Technical assistance at the initiative of Member States
1. The EMFF may support, at the initiative of a Member State, and subject to a ceiling of 6 % of the total amount of the operational programme: (a) the measures of technical assistance referred to in Article 59(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013; (b) the establishment of national networks aiming at disseminating information, capacity building, exchanging best practices and supporting cooperation between the FLAGs in the territory of the Member State. 2. In duly justified circumstances, the threshold referred to in paragraph 1 may exceptionally be exceeded.
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 78 Technical assistance at the initiative of Member States):
2. In duly justified circumstances, the threshold referred to in paragraph 1 may exceptionally be exceeded.
Article 79 Specific objectives
1. Support under this Chapter shall contribute to the achievement of the specific objectives under the Union priority set out in Article 6(6), including: (a) the Integrated maritime surveillance (IMS) and, in particular, the Common information sharing environment (CISE) for the surveillance of the Union maritime domain; (b) the promotion of the protection of the marine environment, in particular its biodiversity and marine protected areas such as Natura 2000 sites, without prejudice to Article 37 of this Regulation, and the sustainable use of marine and coastal resources, and the further definition of the boundaries of the sustainability of human activities that have an impact on the marine environment, in particular in the framework of Directive 2008/56/EC. 2. Amendments of the operational programme with regard to the measures referred to in paragraph 1 shall not result in an increase of the total financial allocation referred to in Article 13(7).
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 79 Specific objectives):
1. Support under this Chapter shall contribute to the achievement of the specific objectives under the Union priority set out in Article 6(6), including: (a) the Integrated maritime surveillance (IMS) and, in particular, the Common information sharing environment (CISE) for the surveillance of the Union maritime domain; (b) the promotion of the protection of the marine environment, in particular its biodiversity and marine protected areas such as Natura 2000 sites, without prejudice to Article 37 of this Regulation, and the sustainable use of marine and coastal resources, and the further definition of the boundaries of the sustainability of human activities that have an impact on the marine environment, in particular in the framework of Directive 2008/56/EC.
Article 80 Eligible operations
1. The EMFF may support operations in accordance with the objectives set out in Article 79, such as operations that: (a) contribute to achieving the objectives of the IMS and, in particular, those of the CISE; (b) protect the marine environment, in particular its biodiversity and marine protected areas such as Natura 2000 sites, in accordance with the obligations established in Directives 92/43/EEC and 2009/147/EC; (c) improve the knowledge on the state of the marine environment, with a view to establishing the monitoring programmes and the programmes of measures provided for in Directive 2008/56/EC, in accordance with the obligations established in that Directive. 2. The salary costs of personnel of national administrations shall not be considered to be eligible operating costs.
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 80 Eligible operations):
2. The salary costs of personnel of national administrations shall not be considered to be eligible operating costs.
Article 81 Geographical scope
By way of derogation from Article 2, this Chapter shall also apply to operations carried out outside the territory of the Union.
Article 82 Scope and objectives
Support under this Chapter shall contribute to enhancing the development and implementation of the Union’s IMP. It shall: (a) foster the development and implementation of integrated governance of maritime and coastal affairs, in particular by: (i) promoting actions which encourage Member States and their regions to develop, introduce or implement integrated maritime governance; (ii) promoting dialogue and cooperation with and among competent authorities of the Member States and stakeholders on marine and maritime issues, including by developing and implementing integrated sea-basin strategies taking into account a balanced approach in all sea basins as well as the specific characteristics of the sea basins and sub-sea basins, and relevant macro-regional strategies where applicable; (iii) promoting cross-sectoral cooperation platforms and networks, including representatives of public authorities at national, regional and local level, industry including tourism, research stakeholders, citizens, civil society organisations and the social partners; (iv) improving the cooperation between Member States through exchange of information and best practices among their competent authorities; (v) promoting the exchange of best practices and dialogue at international level, including bilateral dialogue with third countries, taking into account UNCLOS and the relevant international conventions based on UNCLOS, without prejudice to other agreements or arrangements which may exist between the Union and the third countries concerned. Such dialogue shall include, as appropriate, effective discussion on the ratification and implementation of UNCLOS; (vi) enhancing the visibility of, and raising the awareness of public authorities, the private sector and the general public to an integrated approach to, maritime affairs; (b) contribute to the development of cross-sectoral initiatives that are mutually beneficial to different maritime sectors and/or sectoral policies, taking into account and building upon existing tools and initiatives, such as: (i) the IMS so as to reinforce the safe, secure and sustainable use of maritime space in particular by enhancing effectiveness and efficiency through information exchange across sectors and borders, while taking due account of existing and future cooperation mechanisms and systems; (ii) maritime spatial planning and integrated coastal zone management processes; (iii) the progressive development of a comprehensive and publicly accessible high quality marine data and knowledge base which shall facilitate the sharing, re-use and dissemination of those data and knowledge among various user groups, thus avoiding a duplication of efforts; for that purpose, the best use shall be made of existing Union and Member States’ programmes; (c) support sustainable economic growth, employment, innovation and new technologies within emerging and prospective maritime sectors, as well as in coastal, insular and outermost regions of the Union, in a way that complements established sectoral and national activities; (d) promote the protection of the marine environment, in particular its biodiversity and marine protected areas such as Natura 2000 sites, and the sustainable use of marine and coastal resources and to further define the boundaries of the sustainability of human activities that have an impact on the marine environment, in accordance with the objectives of achieving and maintaining a good environmental status as required by Directive 2008/56/EC.
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 82 Scope and objectives):
Support under this Chapter shall contribute to enhancing the development and implementation of the Union’s IMP. It shall: (c) support sustainable economic growth, employment, innovation and new technologies within emerging and prospective maritime sectors, as well as in coastal, insular and outermost regions of the Union, in a way that complements established sectoral and national activities; (d) promote the protection of the marine environment, in particular its biodiversity and marine protected areas such as Natura 2000 sites, and the sustainable use of marine and coastal resources and to further define the boundaries of the sustainability of human activities that have an impact on the marine environment, in accordance with the objectives of achieving and maintaining a good environmental status as required by Directive 2008/56/EC.
Article 83 Eligible operations
1. The EMFF may support operations in accordance with the objectives set out in Article 82, such as: (a) studies; (b) projects, including test projects and cooperation projects; (c) public information and sharing best practices, awareness-raising campaigns and associated communication and dissemination activities such as publicity campaigns, events, the development and maintenance of websites, and stakeholder platforms; (d) conferences, seminars, fora and workshops; (e) coordination activities, including information-sharing networks, and development support for sea–basin strategies; (f) the development, operation and maintenance of IT systems and networks enabling the gathering, administration, validation, analysis and exchange of, and the development of sampling methods for, data, as well as interconnection to cross–sectoral data exchange systems; (g) training projects for the development of knowledge, professional qualifications and measures aimed at promoting professional development in the maritime sector. 2. In order to achieve the specific objective of developing cross–border and cross–sectoral operations set out in point (b) of Article 82, the EMFF may support: (a) the development and implementation of technical tools for the IMS, in particular for supporting the deployment, operation and maintenance of the CISE, with a view to promoting cross-sectoral and cross-border surveillance information exchanges interlinking all user communities, taking into account the relevant developments of sectoral policies as regards surveillance and contributing, as appropriate, to their necessary evolution; (b) activities of coordination and cooperation between Member States or regions in order to develop maritime spatial planning and integrated coastal zone management, including expenditure related to systems and practices of data sharing and monitoring, evaluation activities, the setting-up and running of networks of experts, and the setting-up of a programme aimed at building capacity for Member States to implement maritime spatial planning; (c) initiatives to co-finance, purchase and maintain marine observation systems and technical tools for designing, setting-up and running an operational European marine observation and data network system which aims to facilitate the collection, acquisition, assembly, processing, quality control, re-use and distribution of marine data and knowledge, through cooperation between Member States and/or international institutions concerned.
Article 84 Geographical scope
By way of derogation from Article 2, this Chapter shall also apply to operations carried out outside the territory of the Union.
Article 85 Specific objectives
Measures under this Chapter shall facilitate the implementation of the CFP and the IMP, in particular with regard to: (a) the collection, management and dissemination of scientific advice under the CFP; (b) specific control and enforcement measures under the CFP; (c) voluntary contributions to international organisations; (d) Advisory Councils; (e) market intelligence; (f) communication activities under the CFP and the IMP.
Article 86 Scientific advice and knowledge
1. The EMFF may support the provision of scientific deliverables, particularly applied–research projects directly linked to the provision of scientific and socio–economic opinions and advice, for the purpose of sound and efficient fisheries management decisions under the CFP. 2. In particular, the following types of operations shall be eligible: (a) studies and pilot projects needed for the implementation and development of the CFP, including those on alternative types of sustainable fishing and aquaculture management techniques, including within Advisory Councils; (b) the preparation and provision of scientific opinions and advice by scientific bodies, including international advisory bodies in charge of stock assessments, by independent experts and by research institutions; (c) the participation of experts in the meetings of working groups on scientific and technical issues related to fisheries, such as STECF, as well as in international advisory bodies and in meetings where the contribution of fishery and aquaculture experts is required; (d) research surveys at sea, as referred to in Article 12(2) of Regulation (EC) No 199/2008, in areas where Union vessels operate under Sustainable fisheries partnership agreements as referred to in Article 31 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013; (e) expenditure incurred by the Commission for services related to the collection, management and use of data, to the organisation and management of fisheries expert meetings and the management of annual work programmes related to fisheries scientific and technical expertise, to the processing of data calls and datasets and to the preparatory work aiming at delivering scientific opinions and advice; (f) cooperation activities between Member States in the field of data collection, including those between the various regional stakeholders, and including the setting–up and running of regionalised databases for the storage, management and use of data which will benefit regional cooperation and improve data collection and management activities as well as improving scientific expertise in support of fisheries management.
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 86 Scientific advice and knowledge):
1. The EMFF may support the provision of scientific deliverables, particularly applied–research projects directly linked to the provision of scientific and socio–economic opinions and advice, for the purpose of sound and efficient fisheries management decisions under the CFP. In particular, the following types of operations shall be eligible: (a) studies and pilot projects needed for the implementation and development of the CFP, including those on alternative types of sustainable fishing and aquaculture management techniques, including within Advisory Councils; (b) the preparation and provision of scientific opinions and advice by scientific bodies, including international advisory bodies in charge of stock assessments, by independent experts and by research institutions; (c) the participation of experts in the meetings of working groups on scientific and technical issues related to fisheries, such as STECF, as well as in international advisory bodies and in meetings where the contribution of fishery and aquaculture experts is required; (e) expenditure incurred by the Commission for services related to the collection, management and use of data, to the organisation and management of fisheries expert meetings and the management of annual work programmes related to fisheries scientific and technical expertise, to the processing of data calls and datasets and to the preparatory work aiming at delivering scientific opinions and advice; (f) cooperation activities between Member States in the field of data collection, including those between the various regional stakeholders, and including the setting–up and running of regionalised databases for the storage, management and use of data which will benefit regional cooperation and improve data collection and management activities as well as improving scientific expertise in support of fisheries management.
Article 87 Control and enforcement
1. The EMFF may support the implementation of a Union control, inspection and enforcement system as provided for in Article 36 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 and further specified in Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. 2. In particular, the following types of operations shall be eligible: (a) joint purchase and/or chartering by several Member States belonging to the same geographical area, of patrol vessels, aircrafts and helicopters, provided that they are used for fisheries control for at least 60 % of the total period of use per year; (b) expenditure relating to the assessment and development of new control technologies, as well as of processes for the exchange of data; (c) all operational expenditure related to control and evaluation by the Commission of the implementation of the CFP, in particular that relating to verification, inspection and audit missions, equipment and training for Commission officials, the organisation of or participation in meetings, including the exchange of information and best practices between Member States, studies, IT services and suppliers, and the charter or purchase by the Commission of inspection means as specified in Titles IX and X of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. 3. With a view to strengthening and standardising controls, the EMFF may support the implementation of transnational projects that aim to develop and test the inter–State control, inspection and enforcement systems provided for in Article 36 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 and further laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. Eligible types of operations shall include, in particular, the following: (a) international training programmes for personnel responsible for monitoring, control and surveillance of fisheries activities; (b) initiatives, including seminars and media tools, for standardising the interpretation of regulations and associated controls in the Union. 4. In the case of the operations referred to in point (a) of paragraph 2, only one of the Member States concerned shall be designated as a beneficiary.
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 87 Control and enforcement):
1. The EMFF may support the implementation of a Union control, inspection and enforcement system as provided for in Article 36 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 and further specified in Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. 3. With a view to strengthening and standardising controls, the EMFF may support the implementation of transnational projects that aim to develop and test the inter–State control, inspection and enforcement systems provided for in Article 36 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 and further laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. Eligible types of operations shall include, in particular, the following: (a) international training programmes for personnel responsible for monitoring, control and surveillance of fisheries activities; (b) initiatives, including seminars and media tools, for standardising the interpretation of regulations and associated controls in the Union. 4. In the case of the operations referred to in point (a) of paragraph 2, only one of the Member States concerned shall be designated as a beneficiary.
Article 88 Voluntary financial contributions to international organisations
The EMFF may support the following types of operations in the area of international relations: (a) financial contributions provided to the United Nations organisations as well as voluntary funding provided to any international organisation active in the field of the Law of the Sea; (b) financial contributions to preparations for new international organisations or the preparation of new international treaties which are of interest to the Union; (c) financial contributions to work or programmes carried out by international organisations which are of special interest to the Union; (d) financial contributions to any activity (including working, informal or extraordinary meetings of contracting parties) which upholds the interests of the Union in international organisations and strengthens cooperation with its partners in those organisations. In that regard, when the presence of representatives of third countries in negotiations and meetings in international fora and organisations becomes necessary for the interests of the Union, the EMFF may bear the costs of their participation.
Article 89 Advisory Councils
1. The EMFF shall support the operating costs of the Advisory Councils established in accordance with Article 43 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013. 2. An Advisory Council having legal personality may apply for Union support as a body pursuing an aim of general European interest.
Article 90 Market intelligence
The EMFF may support the development and dissemination of market intelligence for fishery and aquaculture products by the Commission in accordance with Article 42 of Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013.
Article 91 Communication activities under the CFP and the IMP
The EMFF may support: (a) the costs of information and communication activities linked to the CFP and the IMP, including: (i) the costs of the production, translation and dissemination of material tailored to the specific needs of the different target groups in written, audiovisual and electronic format; (ii) the costs of the preparation and organisation of events and meetings to inform, or collect the views of, the different parties concerned by the CFP and the IMP; (b) the travelling and accommodation costs of experts and stakeholders’ representatives invited by the Commission to meetings; (c) the costs of the corporate communication of the political priorities of the Union as far as they are related to the general objectives of this Regulation.
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 91 Communication activities under the CFP and the IMP):
The EMFF may support: the costs of information and communication activities linked to the CFP and the IMP, including: (i) the costs of the production, translation and dissemination of material tailored to the specific needs of the different target groups in written, audiovisual and electronic format; (ii) the costs of the preparation and organisation of events and meetings to inform, or collect the views of, the different parties concerned by the CFP and the IMP; the costs of information and communication activities linked to the CFP and the IMP, including: (i) the costs of the production, translation and dissemination of material tailored to the specific needs of the different target groups in written, audiovisual and electronic format; (ii) the costs of the preparation and organisation of events and meetings to inform, or collect the views of, the different parties concerned by the CFP and the IMP; (b) the travelling and accommodation costs of experts and stakeholders’ representatives invited by the Commission to meetings; (c) the costs of the corporate communication of the political priorities of the Union as far as they are related to the general objectives of this Regulation.
Article 92 Technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission
The EMFF may support, at the initiative of the Commission and subject to the ceiling of 1,1 % of the EMFF: (a) the measures of technical assistance specified in Article 58 of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013; (b) the preparation, monitoring and evaluation of sustainable fisheries agreements and the Union participation in regional fisheries management organisations. The measures concerned shall consist of studies, meetings, expert involvement, temporary staff costs, information activities and any other administrative costs or costs arising from scientific or technical assistance by the Commission; (c) the setting-up of a European network of FLAGs aimed at capacity building, disseminating information, exchanging experiences and best practices and supporting cooperation between the FLAGs. That network shall cooperate with the networking and technical support bodies for local development set up by the ERDF, the ESF and the EAFRD as regards their local development activities and transnational cooperation.
Article 93 Scope
This Title shall apply to measures financed under shared management as set out in Title V.
Article 94 Determination of co-financing rates
1. When adopting implementing acts pursuant to Article 19 approving an operational programme, the Commission shall set the maximum EMFF contribution to that programme. 2. The EMFF contribution shall be calculated on the basis of the amount of eligible public expenditure. The operational programme shall establish the EMFF contribution rate applicable to the Union priorities set out in Article 6. The maximum EMFF contribution rate shall be 75 % and the minimum EMFF contribution rate shall be 20 % of eligible public expenditure. 3. By way of derogation from paragraph 2, the EMFF contribution shall be: (a) 100 % of the eligible public expenditure for the support under storage aid referred to in Article 67; (b) 100 % of the eligible public expenditure for the compensation regime referred to in Article 70; (c) 50 % of the eligible public expenditure for the support referred to in Articles 33, 34 and Article 41(2); (d) 70 % of the eligible public expenditure for the support referred to in point (e) of Article 76(2); (e) 90 % of the eligible public expenditure for the support referred to in points (a) to (d) and (f) to (l) of Article 76(2); (f) 80 % of the eligible expenditure for the support referred to in Article 77. 4. By way of derogation from paragraph 2, the maximum EMFF contribution rate applicable to the specific objectives under a Union priority shall be increased by ten percentage points, where the whole of the Union priority set out in Article 6(4) is delivered through community-led local development.
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 94 Determination of co-financing rates):
1. When adopting implementing acts pursuant to Article 19 approving an operational programme, the Commission shall set the maximum EMFF contribution to that programme. 2. The EMFF contribution shall be calculated on the basis of the amount of eligible public expenditure. The operational programme shall establish the EMFF contribution rate applicable to the Union priorities set out in Article 6. The maximum EMFF contribution rate shall be 75 % and the minimum EMFF contribution rate shall be 20 % of eligible public expenditure. By way of derogation from paragraph 2, the EMFF contribution shall be: (a) 100 % of the eligible public expenditure for the support under storage aid referred to in Article 67; 100 % of the eligible public expenditure for the support under storage aid referred to in Article 67; (b) 100 % of the eligible public expenditure for the compensation regime referred to in Article 70; 100 % of the eligible public expenditure for the compensation regime referred to in Article 70; 50 (d) 70 % of the eligible public expenditure for the support referred to in point (e) of Article 76(2); (f) 80 % of the eligible expenditure for the support referred to in Article 77. 80 % of the eligible expenditure for the support referred to in Article 77. 4. By way of derogation from paragraph 2, the maximum EMFF contribution rate applicable to the specific objectives under a Union priority shall be increased by ten percentage points, where the whole of the Union priority set out in Article 6(4) is delivered through community-led local development.
Article 95 Intensity of public aid
1. Member States shall apply a maximum intensity of public aid of 50 % of the total eligible expenditure of the operation. 2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, Member States may apply an intensity of public aid of 100 % of the eligible expenditure of the operation where: (a) the beneficiary is a public law body or an undertaking entrusted with the operation of services of general economic interest as referred to in Article 106(2) TFEU, where the aid is granted for the operation of such services; (b) the operation is related to the storage aid referred to in Article 67; (c) the operation is related to the compensation regime referred to in Article 70; (d) the operation is related to the data collection referred to in Article 77; (e) the operation is related to support under Article 33 or 34 or to compensation under Article 54, 55 or 56; (f) the operation is related to the IMP measures referred to in Article 80. 3. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, Member States may apply an intensity of public aid between 50 % and 100 % of the total eligible expenditure where: (a) the operation is implemented under Chapter I, II or IV of Title V and fulfils all of the following criteria: (i) it is of collective interest; (ii) it has a collective beneficiary; (iii) it has innovative features, where appropriate, at local level; (b) the operation is implemented under Chapter III of Title V, fulfils one of the criteria referred to in points (a)(i), (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph and provides public access to its results. 4. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, additional percentage points of public aid intensity shall apply for specific types of operations as set out in Annex I. 5. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts establishing how the different percentage points of public aid intensity shall apply in case several conditions of Annex I are fulfilled. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 127(3).
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 95 Intensity of public aid):
1. Member States shall apply a maximum intensity of public aid of 50 % of the total eligible expenditure of the operation. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, Member States may apply an intensity of public aid of 100 % of the eligible expenditure of the operation where: (a) the beneficiary is a public law body or an undertaking entrusted with the operation of services of general economic interest as referred to in Article 106(2) TFEU, where the aid is granted for the operation of such services; (b) the operation is related to the storage aid referred to in Article 67; (c) the operation is related to the compensation regime referred to in Article 70; (d) the operation is related to the data collection referred to in Article 77; (e) the operation is related to support under Article 33 or 34 or to compensation under Article 54, Article 55 or Article 56 or Article 69(3); (f) the operation is related to the IMP measures referred to in Article 80. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, Member States may apply an intensity of public aid between 50 % and 100 % of the total eligible expenditure where: the operation is implemented under Chapter I, II or IV of Title V and fulfils all of the following criteria: (i) it is of collective interest; (ii) it has a collective beneficiary; (iii) it has innovative features, where appropriate, at local level; (b) the operation is implemented under Chapter III of Title V, fulfils one of the criteria referred to in points (a)(i), (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph and provides public access to its results. 4. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, additional percentage points of public aid intensity shall apply for specific types of operations as set out in Annex I. 5. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts establishing how the different percentage points of public aid intensity shall apply in case several conditions of Annex I are fulfilled. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 127(3).
Article 96 Calculation of additional costs or income foregone
Where aid is granted on the basis of additional costs or income foregone, Member States shall ensure that the relevant calculations are adequate, accurate and established in advance on the basis of a fair, equitable and verifiable calculation.
Article 97 Managing authority
1. In addition to the general rules set out in Article 125 of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013, the managing authority shall: (a) by 31 March each year, provide the Commission with relevant cumulative data on operations selected for funding until the end of the previous calendar year, including key characteristics of the beneficiary and the operation itself; (b) ensure publicity for the operational programme by informing potential beneficiaries, professional organisations, the economic and social partners, bodies involved in promoting equality between men and women, and the non-governmental organisations concerned, including environmental organisations, of the possibilities offered by the programme and the rules for gaining access to programme funding; (c) ensure publicity for the operational programme by informing beneficiaries of the Union contribution and the general public of the role played by the Union in the programme. 2. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts laying down rules for the presentation of the data referred to in point (a) of paragraph 1. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 127(2).
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 97 Managing authority):
2. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts laying down rules for the presentation of the data referred to in point (a) of paragraph 1. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 127(2).
Article 98 Transmission of financial data
1. By 31 January and 31 July, the Member States shall transmit, by electronic means, to the Commission a forecast of the amount for which they expect to submit payment applications for the current and for the subsequent financial year. 2. The Commission shall adopt an implementing act establishing the model to be used when submitting the financial data to the Commission. That implementing act shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 127(3).
Article 99 Financial corrections by Member States
1. In addition to the financial corrections referred to in Article 143 of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013, Member States shall make financial corrections if the beneficiary does not respect the obligations referred to in Article 10(2) of this Regulation. 2. In the cases of financial corrections referred to in paragraph 1, Member States shall determine the amount of the correction, which shall be proportionate, having regard to the nature, gravity, duration and repetition of the infringement or offence by the beneficiary and the importance of the EMFF contribution to the economic activity of the beneficiary.
Article 100 Interruption of the payment deadline
1. In addition to the criteria allowing for interruption listed in points (a), (b) and (c) of Article 83(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013, the authorising officer by delegation, within the meaning of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012, may interrupt the payment deadline for a payment application in the case of non-compliance by a Member State with its obligations under the CFP which is liable to affect the expenditure contained in a payment application for which the interim payment is requested. 2. Prior to the interruption of an interim payment deadline as referred to in paragraph 1, the Commission shall, adopt implementing acts recognising that there is evidence suggesting non-compliance with obligations under the CFP. Before the Commission adopts such implementing acts, it shall immediately inform the Member State concerned of such evidence or reliable information and the Member State shall be given the opportunity to present its observations within a reasonable period of time. 3. The interruption of all or part of the interim payments related to the expenditure referred to in paragraph 1 covered by the payment application shall be proportionate, having regard to the nature, gravity, duration and repetition of the non-compliance.
Article 101 Suspension of payments
1. In addition to Article 142 of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013, the Commission may adopt implementing acts suspending all or part of the interim payments under the operational programme in the case of a serious non-compliance by a Member State with its obligations under the CFP, which is liable to affect the expenditure contained in a payment application for which the interim payment is requested. 2. Prior to the suspension of an interim payment as referred to in paragraph 1, the Commission shall adopt an implementing act recognising that a Member State has failed to comply with its obligations under the CFP. Before the Commission adopts such an implementing act, it shall immediately inform the Member State concerned of such findings or reliable information and the Member State shall be given the opportunity to present its observations on the matter. 3. The suspension of all or part of the interim payments related to the expenditure referred to in paragraph 1 covered by the payment application shall be proportionate, having regard to the nature, gravity, duration and repetition of the serious non-compliance.
Article 102 Commission powers
The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts, in accordance with Article 126, defining those cases of non-compliance, referred to in Article 100, and the cases of serious non-compliance, referred to in Article 101(1), deriving from the relevant CFP rules that are essential to the conservation of marine biological resources.
Article 103 Access to information
On request by the Commission, Member States shall communicate to the Commission the laws, regulations and administrative provisions which they have adopted for implementing Union acts relating to the CFP, where those acts have a financial impact on the EMFF.
Article 104 Confidentiality
1. Member States and the Commission shall take all necessary steps to ensure the confidentiality of the information communicated or obtained during on-the-spot controls or in the context of the clearance of accounts implemented pursuant to this Regulation. 2. The principles referred to in Article 8 of Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 ( 21 ) shall apply to the information referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL Reasons for and objectives of the proposal The United Kingdom submitted on 29 March 2017 the notification of its intention to withdraw from the Union pursuant to Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. This means that, if the Withdrawal Agreement is not ratified, the Union's primary and secondary law will cease to apply to the United Kingdom from 30 March 2019 (‘the withdrawal date’). The United Kingdom will then become a third country. The Commission Communication ‘Preparing for the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 30 March 2019: a Contingency Action Plan’ of 13 November 2018 set out the contingency measures it plans to take if no withdrawal agreement enters into force on the withdrawal date. In that Communication, the Commission listed the actions it considered necessary while recalling that additional actions may be necessary at a later stage. The Communication also presented the six general principles which contingency measures at all levels should comply with. These include the principles that measures should not replicate the benefits of membership of the Union, nor the terms of any transition period, as provided for in the Withdrawal Agreement; they must be temporary in nature and should in principle not go beyond the end of 2019; and they must be unilateral actions of the European Union in pursuit of its interests, and therefore in principle the Union can revoke them at any time. The European Council (Article 50) reiterated its call, on 13 December 2018, for work on preparedness at all levels for the consequences of the United Kingdom's withdrawal to be intensified, taking into account all possible outcomes. The Commission presented a package of measures on 19 December 2018 in response to that call. On 17 and 18 December 2018 the Agriculture and Fisheries Council fixed the fisheries opportunities for 2019. Based on this, and taking into account on-going contacts with Member States on the significant negative impact on the fisheries sector of a withdrawal of the United Kingdom without a withdrawal agreement, and the fact that stakeholders cannot themselves mitigate these adverse consequences, the Commission has concluded that two contingency measures are necessary for the fisheries sector. Alongside this measure to amend the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, the Commission is proposing a measure on the sustainable management of external fishing fleets. Pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 1 (the CFP Basic Regulation) Union fishing vessels have equal access to Union waters and resources subject to the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). As from the withdrawal date, the CFP will no longer apply to the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom waters (12 nautical miles territorial sea and adjacent exclusive economic zone) will then no longer be part of the Union waters. In the absence of any provisions to the contrary, access to each other’s waters would no longer be automatic. The default scenario in the absence of other arrangements is that Union fishing vessels would not be authorised to fish in UK waters anymore and vice versa. The fisheries sector is a key component of the economic life of many coastal regions of the European Union. In view of the considerable uncertainties, in absence of an agreement with the United Kingdom, Union vessels risk losing access to these waters and fishing opportunities therein. This would have immediate significant impacts in terms of fishing activities of the EU fleet, employment and economic returns. The gross added value of fisheries in the EU was 4.5 billion EUR in 2016. About 150.000 jobs depend on fisheries, mostly in coastal areas where employment opportunities are limited. Fishing activities also generate employment in other ancillary sectors: for each fisherman between 0.5 and 1 full time employment equivalent is created in ancillary activities. Member States carry out fishing activities at a value of €585 million in the United Kingdom waters. The overall dependency of 8 Member States 2 on United Kingdom waters averages 14 % of their overall landings, ranging from 50 % for the Belgium fleet to around 1 % for Spain. At the local community level the socio-economic impact can be significant, where fishing vessels are particularly dependent on access to United Kingdom waters. The fisheries sector also links up to ancillary activities upstream and downstream. The impact of a sudden closure of UK waters to Union fishing vessels would therefore be substantial for specific fleet segments, with a strong negative economic impact in certain regions and coastal communities. As regions in several Member States along the Atlantic and North Sea coast would be affected, such an emergency situation requires coordinated solutions at EU level. The scope for mitigating the impacts in this situation would be limited. Current UK catches in Union waters could be reclaimed by Union fishing vessels, but there might not be a complete match in the species concerned. The vessels and fleet segments most heavily impacted by a closure of United Kingdom waters might not be the same ones fishing for the species that would become available in Union waters. Furthermore, there are limits to how much fishing efforts could be redirected from United Kingdom waters to Union waters for reasons related to cost-effectiveness and quality of catches. The requirement for fishing activities to be sustainable could also limit a redirection and concentration of fishing effort in Union waters. These options would therefore only ever be able to partially make up for the economic losses for Union fishing vessels resulting from a loss of access to United Kingdom waters. The economic impacts for the affected EU fleet segments would remain very significant. The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) established by Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council 3 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; supports coastal communities in diversifying their economies and finances projects that create new jobs and improve quality of life along European coasts. Measures are already available under the EMFF Regulation for mitigating the adverse economic effects resulting from the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union throughout the whole chain of production and marketing. Under shared management, Member States affected by the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union may decide to redirect available appropriations to any necessary measure mitigating its consequences. However, this discretion is currently limited to some priorities. This would limit the room for manoeuvre Member States have to mitigate the impacts of a closure of United Kingdom waters on their fleets and would limit the effectiveness of those measures. The EMFF Regulation provides detailed rules and arrangements for granting financial compensation to fishermen and owners of fishing vessels in cases of temporary cessation of fishing activities. However, the criteria set to allow for temporary cessation do not allow for compensation due to the withdrawal of a Member State from the European Union and the subsequent loss of access to and fishing opportunities within the waters of that State. In addition to the measures already available under the EMFF Regulation, this proposal introduces the possibility to provide public support for the temporary cessation of fishing activities for fishermen and operators that have significant dependence on access to United Kingdom waters and who are affected by a closure of United Kingdom waters. This measure should be available from the day following that on which Union law ceases to apply to the United Kingdom pursuant to Article 50(3) of the Treaty on European Union. 
Revised version (Article 104 Confidentiality):
1. Member States and the Commission shall take all necessary steps to ensure the confidentiality of the information communicated or obtained during on-the-spot controls or in the context of the clearance of accounts implemented pursuant to this Regulation. 2. The principles referred to in Article 8 of Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 ( 22 ) shall apply to the information referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article.
Article 105 Financial corrections by the Commission
1. In addition to the cases referred to in Article 22(7), Article 85 and Article 144(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013, the Commission shall adopt implementing acts making financial corrections by cancelling all or part of the Union contribution to an operational programme if, after carrying out the necessary examination, it concludes that: (a) expenditure contained in a payment application is affected by cases in which the beneficiary does not respect the obligations referred to in Article 10(2) of this Regulation and has not been corrected by the Member State prior to the opening of the correction procedure under this paragraph; (b) expenditure contained in a payment application is affected by cases of serious non-compliance with the CFP rules by the Member State which have resulted in the suspension of payment under Article 101 of this Regulation and where the Member State concerned still fails to demonstrate that it has taken the necessary remedial action to ensure compliance with and the enforcement of applicable rules in the future. 2. The Commission shall decide on the amount of the correction taking into account the nature, gravity, duration and repetition of the serious non-compliance by the Member State or beneficiary with the CFP rules and the importance of the EMFF contribution to the economic activity of the beneficiary concerned. 3. Where it is not possible to quantify precisely the amount of expenditure linked to non-compliance with the CFP rules by the Member State, the Commission shall apply a flat rate or extrapolated financial correction in accordance with paragraph 4. 4. The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts, in accordance with Article 126, determining the criteria for establishing the level of financial correction to be applied and the criteria for applying flat rates or extrapolated financial corrections.
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 105 Financial corrections by the Commission):
(a) expenditure contained in a payment application is affected by cases in which the beneficiary does not respect the obligations referred to in Article 10(2) of this Regulation and has not been corrected by the Member State prior to the opening of the correction procedure under this paragraph; (b) expenditure contained in a payment application is affected by cases of serious non-compliance with the CFP rules by the Member State which have resulted in the suspension of payment under Article 101 of this Regulation and where the Member State concerned still fails to demonstrate that it has taken the necessary remedial action to ensure compliance with and the enforcement of applicable rules in the future. 2. The Commission shall decide on the amount of the correction taking into account the nature, gravity, duration and repetition of the serious non-compliance by the Member State or beneficiary with the CFP rules and the importance of the EMFF contribution to the economic activity of the beneficiary concerned. 3. Where it is not possible to quantify precisely the amount of expenditure linked to non-compliance with the CFP rules by the Member State, the Commission shall apply a flat rate or extrapolated financial correction in accordance with paragraph 4. 4. The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts, in accordance with Article 126, determining the criteria for establishing the level of financial correction to be applied and the criteria for applying flat rates or extrapolated financial corrections.
Article 106 Procedure
Article 145 of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 shall apply mutatis mutandis where the Commission proposes a financial correction referred to in Article 105 of this Regulation.
Article 107 Monitoring and evaluation system
1. A common monitoring and evaluation system for EMFF operations under shared management shall be established with a view to measuring the performance of the EMFF. In order to ensure an effective performance measurement, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts, in accordance with Article 126, defining the content and construction of that system. 2. The general impact of the EMFF shall be considered in relation to the Union priorities set out in Article 6. The Commission may adopt implementing acts establishing the set of indicators specific to those Union priorities. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 127(3). 3. Member States shall provide the Commission with all the information necessary to permit the monitoring and evaluation of the measures concerned. The Commission shall take into account the data needs and synergies between potential data sources, in particular their use for statistical purposes when appropriate. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts laying down rules on the information to be sent by Member States, as well as on the data needs and synergies between potential data sources. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 127(3). 4. The Commission shall present a report on the implementation of this Article to the European Parliament and to the Council every four years. The first report shall be presented by 31 December 2017.
Article 108 Objectives
The objectives of the common monitoring and evaluation system shall be: (a) to demonstrate the progress and achievements of the CFP and the IMP, to consider the general impact and to assess the effectiveness, efficiency and relevance of EMFF operations; (b) to contribute to better targeted support for the CFP and the IMP; (c) to support a common learning process related to monitoring and evaluation; (d) to provide robust, evidenced based evaluations of the EMFF operations that feed into the decision-making process.
Article 109 Common indicators
1. A list of common indicators relating to the initial situation as well as to the financial execution, outputs and results of the operational programme and applicable to each operational programme shall be specified in the monitoring and evaluation system provided for in Article 107 to allow for aggregation of data at Union level. 2. The common indicators shall be linked to the milestones and targets established in the operational programmes in accordance with the Union priorities set out in Article 6. Those common indicators shall be used for the performance review referred to in Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013, and shall allow assessment of the progress, efficiency and effectiveness of policy implementation against objectives and targets at Union and programme level.
Article 110 Electronic information system
1. Key information on the implementation of the operational programme, on each operation selected for funding, as well as on completed operations, needed for monitoring and evaluation, including the key characteristics of the beneficiary and the operation, shall be recorded and maintained electronically. 2. The Commission shall ensure that there is an appropriate secure electronic system to record, maintain and manage key information and report on monitoring and evaluation.
Article 111 Provision of information
Beneficiaries of support under EMFF, including FLAGs, shall undertake to provide to the managing authority and/or to appointed evaluators or other bodies to which the performance of functions on its behalf is delegated, all the data and information necessary to permit monitoring and evaluation of the operational programme, in particular in relation to meeting specific objectives and priorities.
Article 112 Monitoring procedures
1. The managing authority referred to in Article 97 of this Regulation and the monitoring committee referred to in Article 47 of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 shall monitor the quality of programme implementation. 2. The managing authority and the monitoring committee shall carry out monitoring of the operational programme by means of financial, output and result indicators.
Article 113 Functions of the monitoring committee
In addition to the functions provided for in Article 49 of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013, the monitoring committee shall verify the performance of the operational programme and the effectiveness of its implementation. For that purpose, the monitoring committee shall: (a) be consulted and shall approve, within six months of the decision approving the programme, the selection criteria for the financed operations; the selection criteria shall be revised in accordance with programming needs; (b) examine the activities and outputs related to the evaluation plan of the programme; (c) examine actions in the programme relating to the fulfilment of specific ex ante conditionalities; (d) examine and approve the annual implementation reports before they are sent to the Commission; (e) examine actions to promote equality between men and women, equal opportunities, and non-discrimination, including accessibility for disabled persons. The monitoring committee shall not be consulted on the work plans for data collection referred to in Article 21.
Article 114 Annual implementation report
1. By 31 May 2016, and by 31 May of each subsequent year up to and including 2023, Member States shall submit to the Commission an annual implementation report on the implementation of the operational programme in the previous calendar year. The report submitted in 2016 shall cover the calendar years 2014 and 2015. 2. In addition to the provisions of Article 50 of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013, annual implementation reports shall include: (a) information on financial commitments and expenditure by measure; (b) a summary of the activities undertaken in relation to the evaluation plan; (c) information on the actions taken in cases of serious infringements as referred to in Article 10(1) of this Regulation, and of non-respect of the conditions laid down in Article 10(2) of this Regulation, as well as on remedy actions; (d) information on actions taken to comply with Article 41(8) of this Regulation; (e) information on the actions taken to ensure the publication of beneficiaries in accordance with Annex V to this Regulation, for natural persons in accordance with national law, including any applicable threshold. 3. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts laying down rules concerning the format and presentation of the annual implementation reports. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 127(3).
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 114 Annual implementation report):
1. By 31 May 2016, and by 31 May of each subsequent year up to and including 2024, Member States shall submit to the Commission an annual report on the implementation of the operational programme in the previous calendar year. The report submitted in 2016 shall cover the calendar years 2014 and 2015. 3. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts laying down rules concerning the format and presentation of the annual implementation reports. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 127(3).
Article 115 General provisions
1. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts laying down the elements to be contained in ex ante evaluation reports referred to in Article 55 of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 and establishing the minimum requirements for the evaluation plan referred to in Article 56 of that Regulation. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 127(3) of this Regulation. 2. Member States shall ensure that the evaluations conform to the common monitoring and evaluation system agreed in accordance with Article 107, shall organise the production and gathering of the necessary data, and shall supply the various pieces of information provided by the monitoring system to the evaluators. 3. The evaluation reports shall be made available by Member States on the internet and by the Commission on the Union website.
Article 116 Ex ante evaluation
Member States shall ensure that the ex ante evaluator is involved from an early stage in the process of development of the operational programme, including the development of the analysis referred to in point (a) of Article 18(1), the design of the programme’s intervention logic and the establishment of the programme’s targets.
Article 117 Ex post evaluation
In accordance with Article 57 of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013, an ex post evaluation report shall be prepared by the Commission in close cooperation with Member States.
Article 118 Synthesis of evaluations
A synthesis at Union level of the ex ante evaluation reports shall be undertaken under the responsibility of the Commission. The synthesis of the evaluation reports shall be completed at the latest by 31 December of the year following the submission of the relevant evaluations.
Article 119 Information and publicity
1. The managing authority shall be responsible in accordance with point (b) of Article 97(1) for: (a) ensuring the establishment of a single website or a single website portal providing information on, and access to, the operational programme in the Member State; (b) informing potential beneficiaries about funding opportunities under the operational programme; (c) publicising to Union citizens the role and achievements of the EMFF through information and communication actions on the results and impact of partnership agreements, operational programmes and operations; (d) ensuring that a summary of measures designed to ensure compliance with the CFP rules, including cases of non-compliance by Member States or beneficiaries, as well as of remedy actions such as financial corrections taken, is made publicly available. 2. In order to ensure transparency concerning the support from the EMFF, Member States shall maintain a list of operations in CSV or XML format which shall be accessible through the single website or the single website portal, providing a list of operations and a summary of the operational programme. The list of operations shall be updated at least every six months. The minimum information to be set out in the list of operations, including specific information concerning operations under Articles 26, 39, 47, 54 and 56, is laid down in Annex V. 3. Detailed rules concerning the information and publicity measures for the public and information measures for applicants and beneficiaries are laid down in Annex V. 4. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts laying down the technical characteristics of information and publicity measures for the operation, instructions for creating the emblem and a definition of the standard colours. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to Article 127(2).
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 119 Information and publicity):
2. In order to ensure transparency concerning the support from the EMFF, Member States shall maintain a list of operations in CSV or XML format which shall be accessible through the single website or the single website portal, providing a list of operations and a summary of the operational programme. The list of operations shall be updated at least every six months. The minimum information to be set out in the list of operations, including specific information concerning operations under Articles 26, 39, 47, 54 and 56, is laid down in Annex V. 3. Detailed rules concerning the information and publicity measures for the public and information measures for applicants and beneficiaries are laid down in Annex V. 4. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts laying down the technical characteristics of information and publicity measures for the operation, instructions for creating the emblem and a definition of the standard colours. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to Article 127(2).
Article 120 Scope
This Title shall apply to measures financed under direct management as set out in Title VI.
Article 121 Protection of Union financial interests
1. The Commission shall take appropriate measures to ensure that, when operations financed under this Regulation are implemented, the financial interests of the Union are protected by the application of preventive measures against fraud, corruption and any other illegal activities, by effective checks and, if irregularities are detected, by the recovery of the amounts wrongly paid and, where appropriate, by effective proportionate and dissuasive penalties. 2. The Commission or its representatives and the Court of Auditors shall have the power of audit, both on the basis of documents and on-the-spot checks, over all beneficiaries, contractors and sub-contractors who have received Union funds. The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) may carry out on-the-spot checks and inspections on economic operators concerned directly or indirectly by Union funding, in accordance with the procedures laid down in Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 22 ) and in Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96, with a view to establishing whether fraud, corruption or any other illegal activity has occurred affecting the financial interests of the Union in connection with a grant agreement, grant decision or a contract concerning Union funding. 3. Without prejudice to paragraphs 1 and 2, cooperation agreements with third countries and international organisations, grant agreements, grant decisions and contracts resulting from the implementation of this Regulation shall contain provisions expressly empowering the Commission, the Court of Auditors and OLAF to conduct the audits, on-the-spot checks and inspections referred to in those paragraphs, in accordance with their respective competences.
Article 122 Audits
1. Officials of the Commission and of the Court of Auditors, or their representatives, may carry out on-the-spot audits on operations financed by this Regulation at any time with a notice of at least ten working days, except in urgent cases, for a period of up to three years after the final payment made by the Commission. 2. Officials of the Commission and of the Court of Auditors, or their representatives, duly empowered to carry out on-the-spot audits, shall have access to the books and all other documents, including documents and metadata drawn-up or received and recorded in an electronic format relating to expenditure financed under this Regulation. 3. The powers of audit referred to in paragraph 2 shall not affect the application of national provisions which reserve certain acts for agents specifically designated by national legislation. Officials of the Commission and of the Court of Auditors, or their representatives, shall not take part, inter alia, in home visits or the formal questioning of persons within the framework of the national legislation of the Member State concerned. However, they shall have access to information thereby obtained. 4. If any Union financial support granted under this Regulation is subsequently allocated to a third party as a final beneficiary, the initial beneficiary, being the recipient of the Union financial support, shall provide the Commission with all relevant information regarding the identity of that final beneficiary.
Article 123 Suspension of payments, reduction and cancellation of the financial contribution
1. If the Commission considers that Union funds have not been used in accordance with the conditions laid down in this Regulation or in any other applicable Union legal act, it shall notify the beneficiaries who shall have one month from the date of such notification to provide the Commission with their observations. 2. If the beneficiaries do not reply within the period referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article or if their observations are not considered satisfactory, the Commission shall reduce or cancel the financial contribution granted or suspend the payments. Any amount unduly paid shall be repaid to the general budget of the Union. Interest shall be added to any sums not repaid in due time under the conditions laid down in Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012.
Article 124 Evaluation
1. Operations financed under this Regulation shall be monitored regularly in order to follow their implementation. 2. The Commission shall ensure the regular, independent, external evaluation of the operations financed.
Article 125 Reporting
The Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and the Council: (a) in accordance with Article 15, an interim evaluation report on the results obtained and the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the implementation of the operations financed under this Regulation; (b) by 31 August 2018, a communication on the continuation of the operations financed under this Regulation.
Article 126 Exercise of delegation
1. The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Article. 2. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Articles 10, 14, 32, 40, 41, 72, 102, 105, 107 and 129 shall be conferred until 31 December 2020. 3. The delegation of power referred to in Articles 10, 14, 32, 40, 41, 72, 102, 105, 107 and 129 may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the powers specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force. 4. As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council. 5. A delegated act adopted pursuant to Articles 10, 14, 32, 40, 41, 72, 102, 105, 107 and 129 shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or the Council.
Article 127 Committee procedure
1. The Commission shall be assisted by a Committee for the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. That committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011. 2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply. 3. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply. Where the committee delivers no opinion on a draft implementing act to be adopted pursuant to Article 95(5) of this Regulation, the Commission shall not adopt the draft implementing act and the third subparagraph of Article 5(4) of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.
Article 128 Repeal
1. Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 129(2), Regulations (EC) No 2328/2003, (EC) No 861/2006, (EC) No 1198/2006, (EC) No 791/2007, (EU) No 1255/2011 and Article 103 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 are repealed with effect from 1 January 2014. 2. References to the repealed Regulations shall be construed as references to this Regulation.
Article 129 Transitional provisions
1. In order to facilitate the transition from the support schemes established by Regulations (EC) No 861/2006, (EC) No 1198/2006, (EC) No 791/2007 and (EU) No 1255/2011 to the scheme established by this Regulation, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts, in accordance with Article 126, laying down the conditions under which support approved by the Commission under those Regulations may be integrated into support provided for under this Regulation, including for technical assistance and for the ex post evaluations. 2. This Regulation shall not affect the continuation or modification, including the total or partial cancellation, of the projects concerned, until their closure, or of assistance approved by the Commission on the basis of Regulations (EC) No 2328/2003, (EC) No 861/2006, (EC) No 1198/2006, (EC) No 791/2007 and (EU) No 1255/2011 and Article 103 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 or any other legislation applying to that assistance on 31 December 2013, which shall continue to apply to such projects or assistance. 3. Applications made under Regulation (EC) No 1198/2006 shall remain valid.
Article 130 Entry into force and date of application
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union . This Regulation shall apply from 1 January 2014. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
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 130 Entry into force and date of application):
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union . This Regulation shall apply from 1 January 2014.