Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

TITLE VI U.K. MEASURES FINANCED UNDER DIRECT MANAGEMENT

CHAPTER I U.K. Integrated maritime policy

Article 81 U.K. 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 U.K. 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.

Article 83 U.K. 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.

CHAPTER II U.K. Accompanying measures for the CFP and the IMP under direct management

Article 84 U.K. 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 U.K. 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 U.K. 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.

Article 87 U.K. 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.

Article 88 U.K. 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 U.K. 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 U.K. 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 U.K. 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.

CHAPTER III U.K. Technical assistance

Article 92 U.K. 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.