Fisheries sector and resources: fleet capacity and sustainable development, MAGP IV 12/2002

The Council held a debate on the outstanding problems in the Commission proposals to amend: - Decision 97/413/EC concerning the objectives and detailed rules for restructuring the Community fisheries sector for the period from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2001 with a view to achieving a balance on a sustainable basis between resources and their exploitation; - Regulation 2792/1999/EC laying down the detailed rules and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector. In general, the purpose of the Commission proposals is - pending the review of the CFP - to extend MAGP IV by one year while introducing certain more restrictive provisions on access to State aid. The Council debate was based on compromise suggestions by the Presidency, since the Commission proposals had met with opposition from some of the Member States. A number of them wanted to see the fourth MAGP extended by one year with the current provisions being maintained, while others could to varying degrees accept the Commission's approach. The Presidency's compromise suggestions were intended to tone down some of the provisions proposed by the Commission. Nonetheless at the end of the debate the Presidency had to conclude that it was not possible at this stage to unite all the delegations behind the Presidency's compromise; the Commission made clear that it was maintaining its proposals in full. The Presidency would continue to reflect on the best way to continue work on the subject, and indicated that the matter could be reconsidered at the Council meeting on 17 and 18 December 2001.�