9 Common Fisheries Policy: Community contribution
towards control, inspection and surveillance
| (25099)
15341/03
COM(03) 706
| Draft Council Decision on a Community financial contribution towards Member States' fisheries control programmes.
|
| Legal base | Article 37 EC; consultation; QMV
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| Document originated | 20 November 2003
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| Deposited in Parliament | 28 November 2003
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| Department | Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
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| Basis of consideration | EM of 15 December 2003
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| Previous Committee Report | None
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| To be discussed in Council | No date set
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Cleared
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Background
9.1 Although policing the conservation aspects of the Common
Fisheries Policy (CFP) falls to the Member States, the Community
has since 1990 made a financial contribution towards the costs
involved, in recognition of the essential nature of this function
and of the high costs involved, particularly at sea, and in order
to prevent possible weaknesses in one Member State undermining
the efforts of others. The arrangements currently in force are
set out in Council Decision 2001/431/EC,[16]
and have covered the three-year period until 31 December 2003,
in order to allow an assessment to be made of any changes needed
as a result of the reform of the CFP agreed at the end of 2002.
The current proposal
9.2 current proposal The current proposal would extend the principle
of the Community contributing to this kind of expenditure for
a further two years, until the end of 2005. The Commission says
that, having taken into account the 2002 reform of the CFP, it
regards such an extension as justified on the grounds that there
is a continuing need to employ modern technologies to extend the
system of remote monitoring to smaller vessels; to upgrade rapidly
the monitoring structures of some of the countries due to join
the Community next year; to increase co-operation between Member
States and the co-ordination of their inspection activities; and
to increase awareness among Member States of the importance of
adequate penalties for serious infringement of the CFP rules.
9.3 More specifically, the Commission proposes that,
within an overall expenditure of €70 million over the two
years in question, Community contributions up to the maximum percentages
shown below should be made towards the following areas of expenditure:
- purchase of computer equipment
and installation of IT networks : 50%
- purchase and fitting on board fishing vessels
of electronic devices for satellite tracking, electronic recording
and reporting devices, allowing data transmission from the vessel:
50%[17]
- pilot projects concerning the new technologies
for monitoring fishing activities: 50%[18]
- training and exchange of fisheries inspectors:
50%
- pilot projects for inspection plans and observers:
50%
- cost-benefit analysis of expenditure on inspections:
50%
- initiatives to raise awareness of the importance
of complying with fisheries control provisions: 50%
- (for new Member States) purchase and modernisation
of boats and aircraft for inspections at sea: 35%.
9.4 As before, Member States wishing to benefit from
these provisions would be required to submit a two-year programme
to the Commission, covering their control arrangements and objectives,
along with the operational measures for which funding is sought
and the anticipated results. In addition, expenditure under the
extended programme would be subject to a system of annual approval
and reimbursement.
The Governments viewGovernments view
9.5 In his Explanatory Memorandum of 15 December
2003, the Minister for Nature Conservation and Fisheries at the
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mr Ben Bradshaw)
says that the purpose of the proposal is in line with the UKs
objectives for the CFP, and that the Government also agrees with
the Commission that, in the interests of transparency, Member
States receiving Community funding should provide detailed information
on the resources they dedicate to fisheries enforcement. He adds
that all Member States, including the UK, have benefited from
the assistance available under Council Decision 2000/431/EC, but
that, with the enlargement of the Community, existing Member States
will no longer qualify for assistance towards the purchase and
modernisation of vessels and aircraft for surveillance and inspections
at sea. On the other hand, he says that the extension of the
arrangement to provide aid towards pilot projects for inspection
plans and observer schemes, cost-benefit analyses of the effectiveness
of enforcement activity, and increased awareness of the importance
of compliance, is welcome. He adds that, although detailed discussions
have still to take place, there is likely to be general support
within the Council for the proposal.
Conclusion
9.6 The principle that the Community should contribute
to this area of expenditure has been established for some time,
and, in the light of the recent reforms of the Common Fisheries
Policy and the forthcoming enlargement, it makes sense to extend
the present arrangements for a further period, and to adjust the
relative priorities within them to take account of recent developments
and needs. We are therefore clearing this document.
16 OJ No. L 154, 9.6.01, p.22. Back
17
Higher rates may be granted for certain items. Back
18
Higher rates may be granted for certain items. Back
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