Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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733. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the revised MFF allocation over the 2021 to 2027 period for the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund compared to the 2014 to 2020 allocation, excluding funding that was allocated to the UK; the 2018 EU Commission proposal; and the corresponding allocations to Ireland under each scenario in tabular form. [10511/20]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The European Commission’s proposal for a Regulation for the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund for the period 2021-27 was published on 12 June 2018.  The Commission proposed to maintain budgetary stability for the EMFF and proposed allocations to Member States in the same proportions as for 2014-20, albeit with a lower overall budget available for the EMFF because of the loss of the UK contribution.  Ireland’s proposed allocation was €142.4 million compared to €147.6 million for 2014-20. 

The Commission’s Proposal in its entirety was subject to examination by the European Council and European Parliament and the Trilogue negotiations, which are ongoing.  The budgetary elements of the Commission’s Proposal were subject to EU negotiations on the Multi-annual Financial Framework, which are also ongoing. 

On 2 June 2020, Virginijus Sinkevicius, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, announced that, as part of the EU Recovery Plan being proposed by the European Commission, an additional €500 million would be proposed for addition to the EU budget for the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) 2021-2027.  This is €500 million proposed to be added to the 2021-27 budget proposed by the European Commission.  This is a Commission proposal and would fall to be funded as part of the Multi-annual Financial Framework.  The proposal is subject to negotiations and approval by the Council and European Parliament.

Should the Commission proposal be adopted in due course, Ireland like other Member States, will expect to see an increase in its allocation under the EMFF/EMFAF 2021-27.  The Commission proposal for a €500 million increase in the 2021-27 budget does not specify the distribution key for these additional funds.  The tabular presentation of this data requested by the Deputy is set out as follows.