EMFAF Programme and national strategy 2021-2027
The EMFAF Programme 2021-2027 has been developed since the end of 2019 under the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management and with the support of experts as well as in close cooperation with the competent agencies of the Federal Government and the Federal Provinces (Länder) as well as the representations of the respective branches of the sector.
The partners have been involved on a broad basis in preparing the programme strategy and types of measures, including consultations.
The framework for the contents of the future EMFAF Programme 2021-2027 is laid down in the EMFAF Regulation (EU) 2021/1139. The programme has been elaborated according to the relevant strategies as well as at national level and is based on a comprehensive analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) and the identified needs. These include the European Green Deal, the Common Fisheries Policy of the Union (CFP) and the Strategic Guidelines for Aquaculture of the Commission. In line with the National Strategic Plan for Aquaculture, the Austrian EMFAF programme aims in particular at safeguarding a future-proof Austrian aquaculture and fisheries sector and its sustainable further development.
After taking into consideration the feedback received, the programme has been finalised in the first half of the year 2021 and officially submittedas the first EMFAF programme in late August 2021. The European Commission approved the Austrian EMFAF programme on 20 July 2022.
The budget available for funding under the Austrian programme is 15 million Euros, out of which 6.7 million are EUfunds (EMFAF) and 8.3 million are national public money. This means that even though EU funds have been reduced in comparison to the period 2014-2020, the total programme budget has been slightly increased.