The European Commission’s proposal for the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework has opened a twofold debate over the future of European fisheries and aquaculture. Spain, France, and Portugal have led an initiative within the Agriculture and Fisheries Council to retain competences of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) within the sectoral framework, amid concerns that they could be diluted within the new European Fund proposed by Brussels.
At the heart of the political concern is the integration of the CAP and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) into a single macro-financial instrument – the so-called NRPP Regulation.
This restructuring could reduce their sector-specific focus and shift key decision-making away from the Agriculture and Fisheries Council (Agrifish). The countries behind the initiative argue that certain provisions should be transferred back to dedicated sectoral regulations in order to preserve coherence, specialisation and political oversight.
At the same time, the European Court of Auditors has warned of structural risks in the design of the new Fund, which would account for nearly 44% of the EU budget. According to the authors, merging policies with different objectives and implementation logics may increase complexity and force Member States to set internal priorities between sectors. The also caution that differences in the design and interpretation of milestones and targets could undermine comparability and equal treatment across countries.
Under the proposed model, payments would depend on the fulfilment of previously agreed milestones rather than on the reimbursement of costs. In the Court’s view, this system requires very precise definitions and robust safeguards to ensure sound financial management. Furthermore, regarding performance measurement, the auditors highlight the absence of impact indicators and of a clear link between funding and results, which could result in the framework measuring budget execution rather than the actual achievement of objectives.
The alignment between political concerns expressed by several Member States and the technical warnings issued by the auditors reinforces a central point: the debate is not limited to the volume of funding, but extends to the governance model and the traceability of expenditure. In an environment of growing competition between EU priorities, the ability of fisheries and aquaculture to maintain strong sectoral regulations, clear indicators and effective control mechanisms will be decisive in safeguarding their strategic position in the next budget cycle.
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Governance, not just budget: defence of the EMFAF aligns with European auditor’s warnings
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