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OPINION (COM(2025)0559 – C100171/2025 – 2025/0235(COD))

On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the conditions for the implementation of the Union support to the Common Fisheries Policy, to the European Ocean Pact and of the Union’s maritime and aquaculture policy as part of the National and Regional Partnership Fund set out in Regulation (EU) […] [NRP Fund] for the period from 2028 to 2034

ENVI-AD-790778

Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety · Rapporteur: Pierfrancesco Maran

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The Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety proposes amendments to a proposed regulation on Union support for the Common Fisheries Policy, the European Ocean Pact and maritime and aquaculture policy under the National and Regional Partnership Fund for 2028 to 2034. The amendments widen the objectives to include protection and restoration of marine biodiversity, pollution reduction, climate and energy targets, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and BBNJ Agreement. They add definitions, types of intervention, rules on aid intensity, and conditions excluding support for overfishing, illegal fishing and environmental offences. They set conditions for permanent cessation of fishing activity, require resilience by design for infrastructure, and require stakeholder participation in preparing and implementing support.

Committee position. The Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety proposes amendments to the lead committee, strengthening environmental and climate objectives, adding definitions and types of intervention, setting aid intensity rules, and tightening exclusion and cessation conditions.

Key points

  1. Union support should contribute to the Common Fisheries Policy, the European Ocean Pact and related strategies, and to ocean sustainability, climate neutrality by 2050 and the 2030 and 2040 energy and climate targets.
  2. Support should ensure sustainable fishing, food supplies, good environmental status, and consistency with Union environmental law on marine biodiversity and habitats.
  3. Funding should cover conservation and restoration of marine biodiversity, prevention and reduction of marine pollution, decarbonisation, generational renewal, ocean knowledge, maritime security, food security and the blue economy.
  4. Member States should take into account in their NRP Plan the protection of vulnerable marine habitats and species, reduction of marine litter, chemical pollution and underwater noise, and maritime regional cooperation.
  5. Support should be implemented under the Performance Regulation, including the 'do no significant harm' principle, and should not increase fishing capacity at fleet level.
  6. The Union is committed to eliminating environmentally harmful subsidies, including environmentally harmful fisheries subsidies, under the 8th Environment Action Programme, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the Sustainable Development Goals and the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.
  7. Support should prioritise sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, decarbonisation, energy efficiency, selectivity of fishing gear, reduction of unwanted catches and seabed disturbance, and prevention of marine pollution, ensuring a just transition.
  8. Support should contribute to data collection, monitoring and scientific advice on marine biodiversity, environment and ecosystem health, including cumulative pressures.
  9. New definitions are added for small-scale coastal fishing, fisher, sustainable blue economy and maritime policy.
  10. Member States may grant up to 100 % aid intensity for small-scale coastal fishing and for operations protecting and restoring ocean health, including measures under Regulation (EU) 2024/1991.
  11. Member States must describe how support meets the needs of fisheries, aquaculture and coastal communities, protects marine ecosystems, and excludes forms of fisheries contributing to overcapacity, overfishing or illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
  12. Support is excluded for beneficiaries that committed serious infringements, environmental offences or fraud, and permanent cessation of fishing activity must meet conditions including vessel length above 33 metres and a ship recycling plan.

Who is affected

  • Member States, which must describe in their NRP Plan how support meets needs and protects marine ecosystems.
  • Fishers and aquaculture operators, who may receive support for transition to lower-impact practices and must comply with CFP and environmental law.
  • Small-scale coastal fishing, which may receive up to 100 % aid intensity.
  • Coastal and island communities and outermost regions, whose resilience and development support should address.
  • Local and regional authorities and stakeholders, who must be meaningfully involved in preparing and implementing support.

Figures and deadlines

  • 2028 to 2034, the period covered by the proposed regulation.
  • 2030 and 2040 targets for energy and climate, and a climate-neutral economy of the Union by 2050.
  • 100 % aid intensity rate for small-scale coastal fishing and for operations protecting and restoring ocean health.
  • 5 years, the period within which beneficiaries must continue to comply with the CFP and not commit listed infringements.
  • 10 years of the final payment, within which permanent cessation operations must comply with Article 22 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013.
  • 33 metres, the maximum overall length for vessels eligible for temporary cessation support and the minimum length for permanent cessation support.