European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Maria Damanaki on Friday referred to the slow absorption rate of EU fisheries grants observed in Greece.
Speaking in Parliament, she underlined that three years before the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) programme expires (December 2013), Greece has managed to absorb just six million euros out of a total of 208 million euros.
Damanaki briefed the parliamentary standing committee on production and trade and the committee on European affairs as regards the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), putting an emphasis on the efforts made to enact special regulations as regards small boats to prevent the economic destruction of coastal regions.
She pointed out that based on 2009 figures, the Greek fishing boat fleet numbers 17,270 boats, roughly 16,000 of which (96 percent) are small-sized, therefore, instituting special regulations in favour of small boats will contribute to the economic survival of coastal areas.
(ANA-MPA)
