Closed public discussion of the procedure

Russia's military aggression against Ukraine since February 24, 2022 has a negative impact on the fisheries sector in Bulgaria. For commercial fishing operators, these consequences are also directly related to the military actions in the Black Sea, which endanger the lives of the crews. The economic situation is deepening and these circumstances give rise to the need for action to preserve the livelihood of operators from radical shocks. With the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2022/1278, Bulgaria, as an EU member state, is given the legal opportunity to redirect funds in the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Program 2014-2020 (PMDR) to specific measures to deal with the situation.

This proceeding aims to provide compensation to fishing vessel owners and fishermen who have temporarily suspended fishing activities to address the consequences of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, which threatens the security of fishing activities or impedes the economic viability of fishing operations.

The purpose of the procedure is to provide an opportunity to compensate for economic losses and to help fishing vessel owners and fishermen from ceasing fishing activities, in order to avoid bankruptcy situations and to preserve those places in the Fisheries sector.