This Week in Fisheries — Brussels (#28, 2026)
Belgium authorised reduced port electricity tax; new marine equipment rules adopted; no major Parliament activity.
July 19, 2026 to July 25, 2026
Belgium authorised reduced port electricity tax; new marine equipment rules adopted; no major Parliament activity.
📋 In This Week's Newsletter
• ⚖️ EU Legislation
• 🤝 EU Council
EU Legislation (Official Journal)
Belgium authorised to apply reduced tax rate to shore-side electricity supplied to vessels in ports
Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1776 of 10 July 2026 grants Belgium authorisation to apply a reduced rate of taxation to electricity directly supplied to vessels, other than private pleasure craft, berthed in ports. This measure, permitted under Article 19 of Directive 2003/96/EC, will take effect from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2032, unless superseded by an EU-wide electricity taxation regime. The decision specifies compliance with Article 10 minimum tax levels and aims to promote shore-side electricity usage.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1434 updates marine equipment requirements and repeals previous regulation
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1434 of 30 June 2026 applies Directive 2014/90/EU regarding design, construction, performance standards, and testing for marine equipment. The regulation updates the applicable international instruments and explicitly lists new equipment subject to harmonised requirements. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1533 is repealed; transitional measures allow some national approvals to remain valid until 2027 or 2028, depending on previous status. The rules will take effect 40 days after publication in the Official Journal.
EU-Lebanon Agreement amended for continued PRIMA partnership under Horizon Europe
Council Decision (EU) 2026/1414 of 21 April 2026 approves the agreement, in an exchange of letters, updating the terms of scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and Lebanon for Lebanon's continued participation in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) under Horizon Europe. The amending agreement incorporates updated participation conditions and requirements for mutual assistance and compliance. The amendments will enter into force following completion of respective internal approval procedures.
EU-Lebanon agreement on PRIMA: implementing arrangements and mutual assistance
The EU and Lebanon concluded, via exchange of letters, the amended PRIMA agreement integrating new arrangements on mutual assistance. The annex details Lebanese and EU obligations for audits, reviews, and OLAF/EPPO investigations related to PRIMA-funded research, with the Lebanese National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS-L) designated as national contact. The agreement formally enters into force upon notification of completed internal procedures.
EU Council
Environment Council: Informal meeting of environment ministers
An informal meeting of environment ministers took place on 23 July 2026.
