Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1027 of 14 July 2020 on amending Implementing Regulations (EU) No 771/2014, (EU) No 1242/2014 and (EU) No 1243/2014 as regards the implementation and monitoring of specific measures to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in the fishery and aquaculture sector

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (1) and in particular Articles 18(3), 72(3), 97(2) and 107(3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Regulation (EU) 2020/560 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2) has amended Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 to introduce specific measures to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in the fishery and aquaculture sector.

(2) In order to allow the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2020/560, the model for operational programmes under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (‘the EMFF’) and the structure of the compensation plans for operators in the outermost regions set out in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 771/2014 (3) should be adjusted, taking into consideration the requirements of the new measures.

(3) The implementation of Regulation (EU) 2020/560 also requires adjustments to the technical specifications and rules for the presentation of cumulative data on operation and information to be sent by Member States set out in Commission Implementing Regulations (EU) No 1242/2014 (4) and (EU) No 1243/2014 (5). These adjustments should allow a reliable monitoring and reporting of operations related to the mitigation of the COVID-19 outbreak. Pursuant to Article 97(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 508/2014, the annual deadline for providing the cumulative data on operations is 31 March. This means that Member States should submit this information in the amended format as of 2021, so as to ensure consistent and harmonised reporting.

(4) Commission Implementing Regulations (EU) No 771/2014, (EU) No 1242/2014 and (EU) No 1243/2014 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(5) In order to allow for the prompt application of the measures provided for in this Regulation due to the urgency in providing the requisite support, this Regulation should enter into force on the day following that of its publication.

(6) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Amendments to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 771/2014

Implementing Regulation (EU) No 771/2014 is amended as follows:

(1) Section 4.5 of Annex I is replaced by the text set out in Annex I to this Regulation;

(2) Section 8.2 of Annex I is replaced by the text set out in Annex I to this Regulation;

(3) Annex II is amended in accordance with Annex I to this Regulation.

Article 2

Amendments to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1242/2014

Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1242/2014 is amended as follows:

(1) Annex I is amended in accordance with Annex II to this Regulation;

(2) in Annex V, row I.9 of table 1 is replaced by the text set out in Annex II to this Regulation.

Article 3

Amendments to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1243/2014

Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1243/2014 is amended as follows:

(1) Annex I is amended in accordance with Annex III to this Regulation;

(2) in Annex II, row I.9 is replaced by the text set out in Annex III to this Regulation.

Article 4

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 14 July 2020.

For the Commission The President Ursula VON DER LEYEN

(1) Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2328/2003, (EC) No 861/2006, (EC) No 1198/2006 and (EC) No 791/2007 and Regulation (EU) No 1255/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 149, 20.5.2014, p. 1).

(2) Regulation (EU) 2020/560 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2020 amending Regulations (EU) No 508/2014 and (EU) No 1379/2013 as regards specific measures to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in the fishery and aquaculture sector (OJ L 130, 24.4.2020, p. 11).

(3) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 771/2014 of 14 July 2014 laying down rules pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund with regard to the model for operational programmes, the structure of the plans for the compensation of additional costs incurred by operators in the fishing, farming, processing and marketing of certain fishery and aquaculture products from the outermost regions, the model for the transmission of financial data, the content of the ex ante evaluation reports and the minimum requirements for the evaluation plan to be submitted under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (OJ L 209, 16.7.2014, p. 20).

(4) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1242/2014 of 20 November 2014 laying down rules pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund with regard to the presentation of relevant cumulative data on operations (OJ L 334, 21.11.2014, p. 11).

(5) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1243/2014 of 20 November 2014 laying down rules pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund with regard to the information to be sent by Member States, as well as on data needs and synergies between potential data sources (OJ L 334, 21.11.2014, p. 39).