The European Commission (EC) has adopted investment packages for the fisheries and aquaculture sectors of Belgium and Hungary.
For the period 2014-2020, Belgium will receive more than EUR 68 million (USD 74.6 million) including EUR 41.7 million (USD 45.7 million) of EU investments, while Hungary will get EUR 51.8 million (USD 56.8 million) including EUR 39.1 million (USD 42.9 million) worth of investments from the bloc.
The Operational Program (OP) under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) will help both countries meet the aims of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP).
In Belgium, half of the funding will go to projects promoting sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, while 34 percent will be used to support the implementation of the CFP through the collection of fish stock and other marine data as well as various measures to control fishing activities, said the EC.
As Hungary is a land-locked country, the program's main objectives relate to increasing sustainable fish production through resource efficient and competitive aquaculture, while reducing negative environmental impacts. It also targets the country's production of high value-added processed fish products and will support measures aiming to increase fish consumption.
