European Commission opens consultation to simplify EU fisheries fund

The European Commission has launched a four‑week public consultation, running until 21 July, to collect evidence on how to simplify the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). The consultation seeks practical examples of rules that are difficult to apply or too rigid and asks for suggestions to reduce administrative burden and increase flexibility for the remainder of the 2021‑2027 programming period.

The call for evidence targets EU Member States, the fishing and aquaculture sector, processors, importers, retailers, ports, shipbuilders, civil‑society organisations, academia and citizens. It also aims to align EMFAF with the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, which entered into force on 15 September 2025 and which the EU ratified in 2023. The EU wants to ensure that its funding does not support activities prohibited under the WTO framework while remaining consistent with the Common Fisheries Policy and broader maritime objectives.