Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/889of 16 April 2026establishing the situation in the Middle East as of 28 February 2026 as the occurrence of an exceptional event causing a significant disruption of markets

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/889 of 16 April 2026 establishing the situation in the Middle East as of 28 February 2026 as the occurrence of an exceptional event causing a significant disruption of markets THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 July 2021 establishing the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/1004 OJ L 247, 13.7.2021, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1139/oj. , and in particular Article 26(2), second subparagraph, thereof, Whereas: (1) The situation in the Middle East as of 28 February 2026 See press release on the European Council conclusions on Middle East, 19 March 2026, https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2026/03/19/european-council-conclusions-on-middle-east/. is impacting operators of the fishery and aquaculture sector in the Union. The attacks on energy infrastructure and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have resulted in a sudden and significant increase of global oil prices and to a partial disruption of trade flows of key commodities and raw materials for the fishery and aquaculture sector from Asia. Trade between the Middle East region and the Union is also severely affected by the unavailability of transport as airports in the affected countries suffered under the attacks and commercial shipping operations in ports of the region have been partially or completely suspended. (2) This crisis is likely to have serious and longstanding consequences on prices for energy, or lead to shortages of key raw materials routed through the Strait of Hormuz and the Suez Canal. A part of the Union fleet has ceased fishing, given the decrease in profitability of that activity. Fishing vessels operating in the Mediterranean Sea are also facing the threat of possible military activities, therefore leading to a precautionary suspension of their activity. The combined impact of those factors is also felt by the seafood farming and processing sectors. There is therefore a significant market disruption that requires effective and efficient action. (3) Pursuant to Article 26(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1139, in such circumstances, the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) may provide support to operators of the fishery and aquaculture sector and to recognised producer organisations and associations of producer organisations which store fishery products in accordance with Articles 30 and 31 of Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1184/2006 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 104/2000 (OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2013/1379/oj).

Fishery and aquaculture sector is defined in Article 5(d) of Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013 as the sector of the economy which comprises all activities of production, processing and marketing of fishery or aquaculture products; . (4) In accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 26(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1139, the specific support regime in case of such disruption of markets is limited to the specific objective of promoting marketing, quality and added value of fishery and aquaculture products, as well as processing of those products. In accordance with the second subparagraph of that Article 26(2), the support regime applies only where the Commission establishes the occurrence of an exceptional event causing such disruption. (5) It is therefore appropriate to establish that the situation in the Middle East as of 28 February 2026 is an exceptional event causing a significant disruption of markets. (6) Pursuant to Article 39 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1139, the compensation provided under that Regulation is to be granted under any of the forms referred to in points (b) to (e) of Article 53(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy (OJ L 231, 30.6.2021, p. 159, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1060/oj). . The methodologies established by Member States for this purpose are to comply with Article 53(3) of that Regulation. (7) Pursuant to Article 63(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060, expenditure is eligible for a contribution from the EMFAF if it has been incurred by a beneficiary and paid in implementing operations between the date of submission of the EMFAF programme by the Member State to the Commission or from 1 January 2021, whichever is earlier, and 31 December 2029. However, expenditure incurred as a result of the disruption of markets caused by the exceptional event whose occurrence is established by this Decision should be eligible for support under Article 26(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1139 as of 28 February 2026, which is the date of the initial airstrikes on Iran. As regards the incurrence of expenditure, since the effects of the disruption of markets are likely to affect operators of the fishery and aquaculture sector for several months, expenditure should be eligible if it is incurred until 31 December 2026. (8) In light of the need for swift implementation of the support referred to in Article 26(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1139, this Decision should enter into force on the day following that of its publication, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

For the purposes of Article 26(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1139, the situation in the Middle East as of 28 February 2026 shall be considered, as of that date, as the occurrence of an exceptional event causing a significant disruption of markets.

Article 2

Expenditure, whose support is allowed as a result of this Decision, shall be eligible if it is incurred between 28 February and 31 December 2026, and paid until 31 December 2029.

Article 3

This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. Done at Brussels, 16 April 2026. For the Commission The President Ursula von der Leyen