Background Information

The European Commission has approved Malta's Operational Programme for the period 2007-2013. The total eligible public expenditure of the Programme amounts to €11,163,105, with EU assistance from the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) amounting to €8,372 329.

Malta's Operational Programme has been prepared in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No. 1198/2006 and plans to implement three axes of the EFF and the technical assistance measure. The priority axes adopted for the Operational Programme are as follows:

• Axis 1 - Adaptation of the Community fishing fleet; budget €2,900,000
• Axis 2 - Aquaculture, processing and marketing of fishery and aquaculture products; budget  €2,277,000
• Axis 3 - Measures of common interest; budget €5,460,105
• Axis 4 - N/A
• Axis 5 - Technical assistance; budget  €526,000

During 2004-2006, Malta benefited from EU support under the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG). The projects co-funded under the FIFG concerned the adjustment and modernisation of the fishing fleet, the development of aquaculture, processing and marketing, as well as the improvement of fishing port facilities.

Examples of successful projects include the establishment of maintenance and repair facility for fishing vessels and the installation of cold store equipment to improve the quality, and thus increase the value, of fisheries products.

The new EU Programme for 2007-2013 aims to build on the achievements of the previous programme. In accordance with the EU's strategic guidelines, the Operational Programme will contribute to important objectives such as achieving a sustainable fishing effort, diversification of the fisheries product, increasing the competitiveness of the sector, enhancement of fishing skills, the safeguarding of jobs, improved working conditions and the application of increased innovation.