Community financial contribution towards Member States fisheries control programmes: extension until 2006

PURPOSE : to renew for one year of Decision 2004/465/EC on a Community financial contribution towards Member States fisheries control programmes.

PROPOSED ACT : Council Decision.

CONTENT : the Community has been providing financial assistance to Member States for fisheries control since 1991. This policy is based on the fact that policing involves high costs, particularly on inspection at sea by means of patrol vessels and aircraft, and for investment in technology and Information Technology (IT) networks.

With this objective in mind, four Council Decisions have been adopted providing for Community support for Member States' expenditure on fisheries inspection: Decision 89/631/EEC covering 1991 to 1995, Decision 95/527/EEC covering 1996 to 2000, Decision 2001/431/EC covering 2001 to 2003 and Decision 2004/465/EC covering 2004 and 2005. An analysis of results of this scheme clearly indicates that Community financial assistance to Member States has had a very positive impact on their inspection systems.

Decision 2004/465/EC expires on 31.12.2005 and the new financial framework for fisheries (covering the period 2007 – 2013) will not come into force until 2007. Hence the current financial scheme adopted under Decision 2004/465/EC needs to be extended for one year so that Community support on expenditure planned by Member States on fisheries control continues to be available until the new financial scheme is in force, and in order to encourage investments by Member States in this area, taking also into account the needs of the Community Fisheries Control Agency.

The proposed Decision is in substance a renewal for one year of Decision 2004/465/EC. Priorities and actions suitable for Community financial support remain unchanged, and periods given to Member States to report on progress made have been modified in consequence. Two new actions suitable for Community financial support have however been added in view of the need to further increase the level of technical assistance to the Commission’s services.

Particular attention will be given to the needs of those Member States that joined the EU in 2004.

The amount scheduled for 2006 is EUR 35 million.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS :

- Budget lines: 11.07.02. Financial contribution to the Member States for expenditure in the field of control.

- Duration of the action and of the financial impact: 2006.

- Summary of commitment appropriations and payment appropriations: EUR 35 million.

- Administrative expenditure not included in reference amount: Human resources and associated expenditure (NDA): EUR 0,378 million each year from 2006 to 2009.

- Administrative costs, other than human resources and associated costs, not included in reference amount (NDA): EUR 0,055 million in 2006, EUR 0,12 million in 2007,  EUR 0,020 million in 2008 and EUR  0,020 million in 2009.

- Total indicative financial cost of intervention: EUR 36,727 million.