State intervention
The State intervenes in several aspects of maritime activity: economic and social aspects (seafarers' labour scheme, social protection), regulations (concerning seafarers in particular) and education (seafarer training). It also fulfills technical missions such as signalling, surveillance and safety at sea. These interventions are herein assessed in terms of the national budget outlay.
- The three main fields of action are:
- maritime safety and security, seafarers and maritime training, support for the merchant fleet, controlling fisheries and nautical sports and leisure, response to marine pollution;
- harbours and coastal zones by promoting intermodal transport;
- social protection for seafarers.
Public intervention budgets in maritime affairs
Maritime safety and security
Seafarers and maritime training
Budget for seafarers and maritime training
Annual budget of national merchant navy schools (ENMMs)
Initial training in maritime and aquaculture high schools
Breakdown of enrolment by training category
Intervention for merchant fleet
- Intervention for the merchant fleet involves:
- a subsidy to the Compagnie générale maritime et financière to supplement retirement pensions paid to the personnel of the former company CGM;
- subsidies for ENIM, the state agency for unemployment and the Central Agency for Social Security, to compensate for exonerations or reimbursements of employer contributions for crew working on French-flagged merchant vessels, assigned to maritime shipping activities subject to international competition;
- reimbursement of part of social contributions to passenger transport companies subject to international competitition.
Inter-ministerial action for the sea
ENIM
The provident fund for naval personnel (ENIM) constitues the social security scheme for all seagoing personnel in the merchant fleet, fisheries and commercial yachting. This special scheme covers all branches except family insurance. ENIM receives a state subsidy which accounted for 52% of ENIM charges in 2005 and 47% in 2009. This reduction took place when an additional subsidy from the general scheme (CNAMTS) was put in place from 2006 on, to cover part of the illness branch; this additional subsidy accounts for around 12% of the charges of ENIM.