Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of July 21, 2026, from the General Directorate of Services and Inspection — Amendment to the Agreement with COIIM |
|---|---|
| BOE Publication | July 27, 2026 |
| Entry into force | July 9, 2026 |
| Reference regulation | Royal Decree 657/2024 — Fishing industrial strengthening subsidies |
| Financing | Next Generation EU Funds — Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan |
| Budget application | 21.01.411M.227.99 |
| Affected parties | Companies in the fishing and aquaculture sector benefiting from Next Generation industrial subsidies |
| Category | Agriculture and Fishing |
| Year | 2026 |
Companies in the fishing and aquaculture sector that received industrial strengthening subsidies under Royal Decree 657/2024 and have needed to modify their projects due to unforeseen circumstances now have greater institutional support. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has signed an amendment to the agreement with the Official College of Industrial Engineers of Madrid (COIIM) to expand the technical evaluation capacity of these modifications, published in the BOE of July 27, 2026.
The reason is clear: modification requests due to unforeseen circumstances exceeded the initial forecasts of the original agreement, which forced an expansion of both the number of files covered and the economic compensation to the evaluating body.
What does this regulation establish?
The amendment modifies and expands the previous agreement between the Ministry of Agriculture and COIIM for collaboration in the technical management of subsidies regulated by RD 657/2024, intended for industrial strengthening actions in the transformation of fishing and aquaculture products, within the Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation (PERTE) of the agri-food sector.
The complete breakdown of the expanded economic compensation to COIIM is as follows:
| Concept | Amount | Volume covered |
|---|---|---|
| Evaluation of initial requests | €110,000 | Up to 50 requests |
| Evaluation of unforeseen modification requests | €40,000 | Up to 15 requests |
| Technical verification of beneficiary projects | €90,000 | Up to 27 projects |
| Total compensation | €240,000 | — |
The funds come from the budget application 21.01.411M.227.99, framed in the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan and financed with Next Generation EU Funds. The amendment enters into force from its registration in the Register of Agreements of the State Public Sector, with effects from July 9, 2026.
Economic and operational impact
For beneficiary companies, this amendment generates no direct cost. The disbursement falls entirely on the Ministry, which finances external technical evaluation through COIIM with European funds.
The operational impact is, however, relevant:
- Greater processing capacity: COIIM will be able to evaluate up to 15 additional unforeseen modification requests, which reduces the risk of administrative collapse and speeds up the resolution of pending files.
- Reinforced technical verification: Technical review is expanded to 27 beneficiary projects, which means that more companies will go through a process of verifying the actual execution of their projects.
- Signal of high demand: The fact that modification requests exceeded initial forecasts indicates that many companies in the sector have encountered difficulties in executing their projects as approved, something common in industrial investment projects with tight deadlines.
The average unit cost of evaluation per modification request is around €2,667 per file (€40,000 / 15 requests), which gives an idea of the technical effort involved in each review.
Who does it affect?
- Companies in the fishing sector benefiting from industrial strengthening subsidies under RD 657/2024.
- Companies in the aquaculture sector with product transformation projects financed with Next Generation EU.
- Companies that have submitted or plan to submit an unforeseen modification request of their subsidized project.
- Beneficiary projects that are in the phase of technical verification of execution (up to 27 projects covered by the amendment).
- Managers and advisors who accompany companies in the sector in processing these subsidies with the Ministry of Agriculture.
Practical example
A Galician canning company obtained in 2024 an industrial strengthening subsidy under RD 657/2024 to modernize its fishing product processing line. During execution, a key machinery supplier was unable to meet delivery deadlines due to supply problems, which forced the company to replace part of the equipment with an alternative different from the one initially approved.
To avoid losing the subsidy, the company submitted an unforeseen modification request to the Ministry, justifying the change. Thanks to the amendment signed with COIIM, that request can be technically evaluated within the new quota of 15 covered modifications, with specialized review valued at approximately €2,667 in cost to the Administration. The company does not assume that cost: it is financed by the Ministry itself with Next Generation EU funds.
Furthermore, if the project enters the technical verification phase of execution (one of the 27 covered projects), COIIM will verify on-site or documentarily that the investment made corresponds to what was approved and modified, which is a prerequisite for final subsidy payment.
What should companies do now?
- Review the status of your file: If you are a beneficiary of RD 657/2024, check whether your project is in the initial evaluation, modification, or technical verification phase. Each phase has specific coverage in this amendment.
- Formalize your modification request if you have one pending: With the expansion of the quota to 15 unforeseen modifications, there is room to process changes that previously could have remained unresolved. Do not wait until the last moment.
- Prepare supporting technical documentation: COIIM will conduct specialized technical evaluation. Make sure that changes to your project are properly justified with solid technical and economic documentation.
- Anticipate technical verification: If your project is approaching the execution verification phase, prepare the complete file: invoices, delivery notes, contracts and evidence that the investment has been made in accordance with what was approved (or modified).
- Consult with your advisor or manager: If you have doubts about whether your modification fits the category of "unforeseen circumstance" or about applicable deadlines, seek specialized advice before submitting the request.
Frequently asked questions
How many unforeseen modification requests does this amendment cover?
The amendment expands coverage to 15 unforeseen modification requests, with compensation of €40,000 to COIIM for its evaluation. This represents approximately €2,667 in administrative cost per file, assumed entirely by the Ministry with Next Generation EU funds.
What is an unforeseen modification request in fishing subsidies?
It is a request submitted by the subsidy beneficiary to modify some element of their approved project (equipment, deadlines, expense items) due to unforeseen circumstances arising during execution, such as supply problems, supplier changes or technical unforeseen events. It is regulated under RD 657/2024 and requires technical evaluation before being approved.
When does this amendment enter into force and from when does it have effect?
The amendment was published in the BOE on July 27, 2026 and has effect from July 9, 2026, the date of its registration in the Register of Agreements of the State Public Sector.
How much total money is allocated to COIIM with this amendment?
The total economic compensation to COIIM amounts to €240,000, distributed as: €110,000 for evaluation of up to 50 initial requests, €40,000 for up to 15 unforeseen modification requests, and €90,000 for technical verification of up to 27 beneficiary projects. The funds come from budget application 21.01.411M.227.99 and are financed with Next Generation EU Funds.
Do beneficiary companies have to pay anything for COIIM technical evaluation?
No. The cost of technical evaluation falls entirely on the Ministry of Agriculture, which finances the compensation to COIIM with Next Generation EU funds. Beneficiary companies do not assume any cost for this concept.
Official source
View complete regulation in official source
Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-16335