The General Secretariat for Agricultural Policy and International Relations has announced the launch of applications for the sub-project “Strengthening Aquaculture”, funded by the Recovery and Sustainability Fund for the period 2022-2025, with a total budget of EUR 34,440,000.

The objectives of the subproject are to increase the productivity of companies operating in the aquaculture sector, adopt and implement practices that limit their environmental impact, introduce systems for the provision of advisory services, disseminate knowledge and information, support young people. enter the sector, and finally sustainable development and better management of natural resources. Each investment plan must fulfill at least one of the above goals.

Eligible beneficiaries. As stated in the published announcement, the eligible beneficiaries are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) engaged in the production, processing or marketing of fishery and aquaculture products.

The above beneficiaries consist of legal entities of commercial law, producer groups (PO), producer organizations (PO), associations of producer organizations, fishing cooperatives (AP), agricultural cooperative partnerships (AES), interprofessional organizations and joint-stock companies, the majority shares of which belong to cooperatives , social cooperative enterprises, associations and cooperative schemes.

It is noted that individuals and individual entrepreneurs are not supported.

Selectable actions. According to published data, the action enhances actions related to:

Increase – modernization of production, encouragement of investments in the modernization of facilities and infrastructure for water and land.

Fight climate change by investing in equipment that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and improves the energy efficiency of land-based aquaculture facilities.

Reducing production costs, which will enhance the work of organized aquaculture zones.

Strengthening the differentiation of the end product, introducing measures and activities to develop know-how to expand the range and the emergence of new end products.

Strengthening the promotion that will promote the Greek fish farming brand, as well as expanding marketing research and promotions aimed at identifying new potential target markets.

Research and innovation that will focus on improving existing breeding methods and production processes, as well as developing new breeding methods and technologies in new areas.

Transfer of know-how that will shape targeted actions and develop specialized commercial, advertising and business strategies.

Genbank of endangered and commercial species of freshwater fish.

Acceptance Criteria. To be eligible for assistance, applications for assistance must meet the following criteria:

• Duration of the investment plan.

• Legal identification of the beneficiary.

• Environmental Protection. In the case of investments in fixed assets, at least one of the following is required:

• Investments in the construction of facilities to achieve a higher energy efficiency ratio.

• Investment in mechanical and other energy efficient equipment.

• Providing vehicles with the highest available emission measurement standard applicable to each vehicle category.

• Investments in RES, including RES of solar energy.

• Investments in infrastructure that help protect the environment and improve biodiversity.

• Investments in infrastructure and mechanical equipment that contribute to the conservation of water resources.

• Investment sustainability (based on economic and technical research).

Funding rates. The requested budget limits for each funding application range from EUR 250,000 to EUR 2,000,000.

The aid intensity percentage is set at 50% of all eligible costs for the entire territory and up to EUR 1,000,000 per year per beneficiary. A potential beneficiary may apply for less than 50% of the aid intensity to receive priority in the evaluation process.

As an exception, the intensity of public assistance may vary and may be approximately 100% of the eligible costs of the operation if the beneficiaries are public authorities, or 85% of the eligible costs of the operation if the operation takes place in the outer Greek islands.

The term for the implementation of investment projects is set at eighteen months with the possibility of extension for six months.

Detailed information about the announcement can be found on the website of the Recovery and Resilience Foundation https://greece20.gov.gr.

Applications are to be submitted from 11/30/2022 until the government spending is exhausted and in any case until 12/30/2022.

* Ms. M. Paspalari is the Managing Director of AMBIO SA.