Cutting the purse strings on the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) could hit Galicia's fishing community hard, warns MEP Ana Miranda Paz. With the fund slashed from €6.108 billion in 2021-2027 to a bare minimum €2 billion for 2028-2034—a staggering 67% drop—the livelihoods of those tied to Galicia's fishing fleets and related industries are on the frontline. Naturally, the fisheries sector, regional policymakers, and local economies are all keenly watching the fallout.
This concern comes from a written parliamentary question posed by Ana Miranda Paz, a member of the Greens/European Free Alliance (Verts/ALE), seeking clarity from the European Commission on the repercussions for Galicia's ageing fishing fleet and economy.
Miranda's question outlines tangible impacts, noting that over 2,200 vessels have already been scrapped in the last two decades with a €6 billion budget, suggesting that the sharp budget decrease could spell catastrophe. However, the Commission’s response, delivered by Mr Kadis, outlines that although the EMFAF baseline shrinks, Member States can top up funding through National and Regional Partnership Plans. Furthermore, complementary funds such as the €451 billion European Competitiveness Fund and the €200 billion Global Europe Instrument could bolster support but rely heavily on strategic national choices rather than EU-wide guarantees.
The policy orientation here implies a delicate balancing act between reducing centralized EU funding while bolstering Member State autonomy in allocating resources for fisheries sustainability, innovation, and crisis management. This shift introduces a cleavage between decreasing centralized EMFAF support and increasing national-level strategic discretion.
For Galicia’s fishers and aquaculture businesses, this may mean less direct EU cash but more conditional funding access contingent on national priorities. While this could encourage tailored supports, it risks leaving regions like Galicia vulnerable if their governments deprioritize fisheries. Meanwhile, the Commission and EU taxpayers could benefit from a leaner core fund and potentially more efficient national fund deployment. Overall, the answer signals a pivot towards empowering Member States with substantial yet conditional funds rather than guaranteeing a fixed EU-wide EMFAF pot.
Next steps include a formal EU Commission reply within weeks, which will provide important signals on how this budgetary recalibration will actually play out in policy execution across fisheries-dependent regions like Galicia.
← Atlas › News › Agri-Food