Commission Staff Working Document - Principles and recommendations for integrating climate change adaptation considerations under the 2013-2020 European Maritime and Fisheries Fund operational programmes

The Commission proposal for the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) envisages climate action on adaptation and mitigation through the EMFF programmes. The proposal includes: clear policy objectives that shall be pursued through the six Union priorities, some of which refer to climate action; cross-cutting objectives like innovation, environment and climate change mitigation and adaptation to be pursued through the EMFF programmes; increased flexibility in designing the programmes which means that the measures can be programmed in relation to several Union priorities; an increased performance orientation of the EMFF based on ex-ante conditionality and on a performance review system; result orientation of the programmes - setting targets by specific objectives that are linked to Union's Priorities. This document aims to ensure that climate change adaptation objectives are embedded in the design of the 2014-2020 EMFF OPs (Operational Programmes). It is addressed to all stakeholders involved in the preparation and consultation of EMFF programmes, including climate experts and external stakeholders.