Regulation 2022/1278 - Amendment of Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 as regards specific measures to alleviate the consequences of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine on fishing activities and to mitigate the effects of the market disruption caused by that war of aggression on the supply chain of fishery and aquaculture products - Main contents

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 195/1

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine since 24 February 2022 is having an impact on operators in the fishery and aquaculture sector in the Union. The disruption of trade flows of key commodities for the fishery and aquaculture sector from Russia and Ukraine abruptly intensified the increase in prices of key inputs such as energy and raw materials. Trade between Ukraine and the Union is also severely affected by the unavailability of transport, as Ukrainian airports have been rendered inoperable because of the Russian attacks and all commercial shipping operations in Ukrainian ports have been suspended. The current crisis is likely to have serious consequences for the supply of grain, vegetable oils and white fish from Russia and Ukraine to the Union, leading to shortages of key raw materials and to a substantial increase in fish feed prices. Part of the Union fleet has ceased fishing because of the impossibility of offsetting the increase in input costs such as soaring energy prices and the decrease in profitability of fishing. The combined impact of the raw material shortages and cost increases is also being felt by the seafood farming and processing sectors. There is therefore significant market disruption, caused by substantial cost increases, and trade disruptions, requiring effective and efficient action.

Therefore, it should be possible for the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) established by Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3) to support specific measures to mitigate the effects of the market disruption caused by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine on the supply chain of fishery and aquaculture products. Those measures should comprise financial compensation to recognised producer organisations and associations of producer organisations which store fishery or aquaculture products in accordance with Articles 30 and 31 of Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4), and financial compensation to operators of the fishery and aquaculture sector, including the processing sector, for their income foregone, and for additional costs they have incurred due to the market disruption caused by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its effects on the supply chain of fishery and aquaculture products. Expenditure for operations supported under those measures should be eligible as from 24 February 2022, which is the date upon which Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine commenced.

It should also be possible for the EMFF to support financial compensation for the temporary cessation of fishing activities where Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine jeopardises the security of fishing activities or where the impact of that war of aggression impedes the economic viability of fishing operations. Such temporary cessation of fishing activities...