Multi-annual guidance programmes for the fishing fleets at the end of 1996 (regul. 3699/93/EEC). Annual report

OBJECTIVE: presentation of the Commission's Annual Report on the results of the multiannual guidance programmes for the fishing fleets at the end of 1996. SUBSTANCE: this report is the fifth in the series and is the final report on the results of the third generation of multiannual guidance programmes (MGPIII) which fixed objectives for reducing the size of the fishing fleet for each Member State over the period 1992 - 1996. The Commission believes that the annual guidance programmes had been effective in reducing the overcapacity of the European fleets. During the period 1991 - 1996, the fleet's tonnage has been reduced by approximately 300 000 GRT and its power by approximately 790 000 kW, or by about 15% and 9.5% respectively. The capacity of the fleet on 31 December 1996 was 11% below the global objectives for tonnage and 5% below the global objectives for power. These results were, in general, very satisfactory. For the Member States who had not reached their objectives, there were two main consequences: - aid for fleet renewal and modernization was to be withheld. The Commission was in the process of examining the case of each of the Member States concerned to ensure that this requirement was met; - the backlog from the MGP III was to be made up under the conditions that applied to the MGP III. This meant that at least 55% of the backlog should be made up by a reduction in capacity. The Commission notes that there are also marked differences between the Member States in the extent to which the information in the fleet register has been kept up to date and reliable. This is particularly the case with respect to the estimation or remeasurement of vessels in units of GT, which should have been completed in 1995. These data would be of vital importance for the successful transition from the GRT objectives of MGP III to the GT objectives of MGP IV. The Commission reserves the right to initiate the appropriate procedures concerning the Member States that had not complied with the multiannual guidance programmes within the time period envisaged or had not established the means to monitor the programmes or the means to inform the Commission of the exact situation of their fleets with respect to the objectives of the programmes. �