The EFCA adopts its Work Programme and Budget for 2014 - Main contents

(15/10/2013) The EFCA has adopted its Multiannual Work Programme for 2014-2018 and the Annual Work Programme at the meeting of the Administrative Board held on 15 of October 2013.

Moreover, the budget adopted in the meeting for 2014 is of €9,217,150, almost the same figure as the final budget of 2013, and subject to the definitive adoption of the EU Budget for 2014 by the Budgetary Authority in the coming weeks.

For the period 2014-2018 period, the European Fisheries Control Agency will be dedicated to supporting the Member States and the Commission in the implementation of the new features of the Common Fisheries Policy in accordance with our core tasks. The main two tasks are the various Joint Deployment Plans, for which we will need to succeed in the evolution towards regional, multispecies and continuous Joint Deployment Plans in force (North Sea, Baltic Sea, Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic and Western waters), and the support to Member States and the European Commission. This support entails the development and completion of IT projects that ensure the good functioning of data monitoring and networks, training, horizontal support activities to the Member States and the European Commission, and to the new Common Fisheries Policy, in cooperation with third countries and Regional Fisheries Management Organisations on Commission request.

Indeed, the European Fisheries Control Agency’s mission is to promote the highest common standards for control, inspection and surveillance under the Common Fisheries Policy. Its reform will entail new rules for which a common approach and a level playing field will need to be ensured. Namely, the regional and international features of landing obligations, regionalisation, and the core control and enforcement policy will have implications for fisheries control in general and for EFCA in particular. The EFCA will support the Member States and the Commission within the Agency’s financial and human resources and following the Administrative Board priorities within its remit.

Moreover, an important task for this upcoming period is the implementation of the projects on evaluation of compliance trends in fisheries and on the analysis of cost-effectiveness of control operations resulting from the decision of the Administrative Board on the creation of two Focus Groups for developing this assessment method.

As a cruising speed agency, the EFCA needs to deliver them by supporting the implementation of the new rules against a background of financial cuts and budget constraints.

“In the current situation, we are committed to do more with less. Indeed, I believe EFCA is very well placed to continue organising coordination and cooperation between national control and inspection bodies and contributing to building the capacity of the Commission and Member States so that the reformed CFP rules are respected and applied effectively in a uniform manner,“ said Pascal Savouret, EFCA Executive Director.