European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF):
The allocation of total public budget across and within EU Member States
Alessandra Borrello*1, Maurizio Gibin1, Fabrizio Natale1, Simkje Kruiderink2
* corresponding author
Tel.: +39 0332 783631
Email: alessandra.borrello@jrc.ec.europa.eu
1
European Commission. Joint Research Centre Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen, Ispra,
Italy.
2
European Commission. Maritime Affairs and Fisheries DG, Unit A3: Structural policy and economic
analysis, Brussels, Belgium.
ABSTRACT
The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) will provide financial support to the
implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy and of the EU Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP)
during the period 2014-2020.
The objectives of the EMFF are structured around six Union Priorities (UPs): Promoting
environmentally sustainable, resource–efficient, innovative, competitive and knowledge–based
fisheries (UP1) and aquaculture (UP2), Fostering the implementation of the Common Fisheries
Policy (UP 3) and the Integrated Maritime Policy (UP6), increasing employment and territorial
cohesion (UP4) and fostering marketing and processing (UP5). The EMFF will also support
technical assistance operations and 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.
The EMFF has a total budget of € 6.5 billion, which has been allocated to the EU countries based
on the size of their fishing industry. This budget is complemented by national co-financing.
Overall, the EU countries intend to spend the largest part of the total public budget (EMFF and
national contributions) for the first two UPs. Fostering the implementation of the CFP and
fostering marketing and processing also account for a significant share of the total.
Each country has planned to allocate the available resources rather differently. Fifteen countries
will invest around 30% or more to promote the sustainable development of the fisheries sector.
Spain, France and Italy, for example, have decided to dedicate to this objective the largest part of
their budget. For most countries, the other two main priorities are developing a sustainable
aquaculture and fostering the implementation of the CFP. Promoting fish marketing and
processing is also an important priority for many MS, especially for Latvia, Austria, Slovakia,
Estonia and Portugal.