This Regulation, in order to respond to the impact of the public health crisis, and in order to safeguard the income of fishermen and aquaculture farmers affected by COVID-19 public health crisis, sets several amendments to the Regulation (EU) No. 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (e.g. under Article 139 of the ESIF Regulation, the Commission has waived this year the obligation to request the refunds of unspent pre-financing from the fund until programme closure. Regulation (EU) No. 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund as well is amended(e.g. EMFF may contribute to mutual funds which pay financial compensation to fishermen for economic losses caused by public health crises, adverse climatic events or by environmental incidents or for the rescue costs for fishermen or fishing vessels in the case of accidents at sea during their fishing activities)