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   March 2017
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Over ten Baltic FLAGs join forces in transnational cooperation scheme

This is the first cooperation project involving such a significant number of Baltic FLAGs. Until now, cooperation projects have been mainly carried out between FLAGs from the same country or on a bilateral basis. In early January, more than ten FLAGs and 40 participants came from Denmark, Estonia, Finland and Sweden to collaborate on a transnational cooperation project. What was on the agenda to gather such a crowd? Seals and cormorants.

At the event, the participants capitalized on the work that had been initiated by the ESKO FLAG during the 2007-2013 period. The Baltic FLAGs present agreed on a project plan to research, analyse and raise awareness on the impact of seals and cormorants on fisheries communities and fish stocks in the Baltic Sea – and to find sustainable solutions.

During the event, they discussed the needs, objectives and activities regarding the management of seals and cormorants. Those involved in the project feel that the issue is not well recognized at national and EU-level. Before kick-starting the project, the next step will be to obtain the Board approval from each of the FLAGs interested in participating.


   
  

Italian FLAGs kick off 2017 with technical meetings

By the end of October 2016, 35 FLAGs had been selected in Italy. Without delay, the Italian National Managing Authority organized three technical meetings for FLAGs and regional authorities in Bologna, Ancona and Palermo to get the FLAGs up and running. During these three events, in January, participants received guidance on launching CLLD and cooperation projects so that the FLAGs would be ready to select projects by mid-2017.

The event was an opportune moment for direct exchange between FLAGs and Regional Authorities to sort out any issues on becoming operational. The Italian FLAGs and these Intermediate Bodies were also advised on the legal frameworks and processes required for the development, selection, approval and implementation of cooperation projects. Coming out of the meetings, there was a clear understanding of the support needed for cooperation and national cooperation guidelines will be soon developed. More practical issues were also discussed, such as financial procedures for advance payments, as well as the regional templates for formally contracting the FLAGs. Thanks to this initiative, CLLD in Italy is ready to be in full swing in 2017.


   
Events
15-17 March
2nd International Conference on Marine/Maritime Spatial Planning
Paris, France
21-23 March
FARNET 3rd Transnational Seminar: Social inclusion for vibrant fishing communities
Jūrmala, Latvia
25-27 April
XXIII Conference of the European Association of Fisheries Economists (EAFE): The socio-economics of adaptation in EU fisheries
Dublin, Ireland
15-21 May
European Maritime Day Conference
Poole, UK
17-18 May
FARNET Managing Authorities meeting
Brussels, Belgium
29 May - 2 June
EU Green Week: Green Jobs for a Greener Future
EU
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Editor : European Commission, Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Director-General.
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