EC consults on Digital Europe program and EMFF evaluation for 2014-2020

The European Commission is currently consulting on two important documents: the Digital Europe program and the EMFF evaluation for 2014-2020. We encourage you to read the details of the aforementioned documents and to submit comments. Submitted opinions will be taken into account in further work on these initiatives and will be posted on the European Commission’s website.

Digital Europe program consultations

The program was enacted in 2021 by Regulation (EU) 2021/694 on the Digital Europe program. The program is a new EU funding modality aimed at bringing digital technologies closer to businesses, citizens and public administrations. It provides strategic funding to address digital technology and infrastructure challenges, supporting projects in 6 key capability areas:

• large-scale calculations. This includes leveraging world-class exascale and superexascale supercomputing and quantum computing capabilities to ensure the widest possible access and use;
• artificial intelligence. The effort focuses on implementing EU-wide data spaces based on federated cloud infrastructure and promoting the testing and adoption of artificial intelligence technologies through a European platform and world-class test and experiment centers;
• cyber security and trust. The goal is: (i) the creation of advanced cybersecurity measures (hardware, tools and data infrastructure), including a secure quantum communications infrastructure for Europe; (ii) promoting the exchange of best practices; (iii) Ensure widespread deployment of state-of-the-art cyber security solutions across the European economy.
• advanced digital skills. The goal is to enhance academic excellence by expanding education and training in key digital technologies such as large-scale computing, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence;
• Adoption and optimal use of key digital technologies. This includes: (i) implementing a network of European digital innovation centers to support the transformation of European public and private organizations; (ii) addressing key societal challenges (e.g., environment and climate change) by implementing high-impact projects and strengthening European blockchain capabilities; (iii) Digital transformation of public administration and public services through interoperable solutions; (iv) Promoting an inclusive and trustworthy digital space;
• semiconductors. Emphasis is placed on promoting Europe’s leadership in semiconductor technology and applications through: (i) Building advanced design capabilities for integrated semiconductor technologies; (ii) strengthening existing and developing new advanced pilot lines across the EU to enable the development and deployment of next-generation semiconductor technologies; (iii) building advanced technological capabilities and engineering capacities to accelerate the development of state-of-the-art quantum chips and related semiconductor technologies; (iv) the establishment of a network of competence centers across Europe; (v) taking measures to facilitate access to debt and equity financing.

The evaluation of the program will look at 5 criteria: effectiveness, efficiency, consistency, relevance and European added value. It will be supported by an external study that will cover all these values.

The Digital Europe program is scheduled to be adopted by the European Commission in the fourth quarter of 2025. Detailed information on the Digital Europe consultation can be found on the European Commission’s website. The deadline for submitting opinions is September 20, 2024.

Consultation on the ex-post evaluation of the EMF and the mid-term evaluation of the EMFRA

The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) and its new form, the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFA), are financial instruments designed to help achieve the goals of the reformed Common Fisheries Policy and support the implementation of the EU’s Integrated Maritime Policy.

The funds contribute to sustainable fisheries, the restoration and conservation of living aquatic resources, sustainable aquaculture, and the processing and marketing of fishery and aquaculture products, thereby contributing to food security in the EU. In addition, these instruments support a sustainable blue economy in coastal, insular and inland areas, enable the development of fishing and aquaculture communities, strengthen the effectiveness of international ocean governance, and influence the safety, security and cleanliness of the seas and oceans and their sustainable management.

The budget available under the EMFF for 2014-2020 was €6.4 billion (of which 89 percent was under shared management and 11 percent. – direct management). Over the 2021-2027 period, the budget remained relatively stable, with €6.108 billion made available under EFMRA (87 percent under shared management and 13 percent under direct management). You can read about the first calls implemented under EFMRA in a previous Water Matters article: European Funds for Fisheries. Calls for funding applications begin.

The EMFF and EMMA support the implementation of the maritime policy and serve as the financial pillar of the Common Policy for Fisheries and Aquaculture. In this way, they make it possible to make the changes necessary to achieve environmental policy goals and sustainable economic and social development.

The purpose of the evaluations carried out is to gather the views of target audiences on the results achieved with EMFF and EMMA support during the respective programming periods and to identify factors leading to increased effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, consistency and European added value.

The evaluation of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, which operated from 2014-2020, and the mid-term evaluation of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund for 2021-2027 are scheduled to be adopted by the European Commission in the fourth quarter of 2024. Details of the consultation can be found on the European Commission’s website, and the deadline for feedback is September 6, 2024.