Interim Evaluation of the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) for the Sustainable Development of EU Aquaculture

This Staff Working Document (SWD) presents the results of the interim evaluation of the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) for the sustainable development of EU Aquaculture.  It is based on an independent evaluation report prepared by external consultants, as well as on other sources of evidence, inter alia the "Economic Report of the EU Aquaculture sector" (STECF-18-19) and the EU Fish Market 2018 Report. The aim of the evaluation is to (i) assess national and EU efforts to promote the development of sustainable aquaculture in relation to the OMC’s objectives in terms of their effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, coherence and EU added value; (ii) inform Member States, stakeholders and the public on the achievements of the OMC in this sector; (iii) provide evidence for future policy making on EU aquaculture. The evaluation aims at identifying the factors that contributed to the success or failure of the implementation of the OMC so far and can contribute to further develop evidence-based policy for the sustainable development of EU aquaculture.