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

 The committee adopted the report by Paulo CASACA (PES, PT) amending the proposal under the consultation procedure:

- MEPs deleted the provisions relating to the Commission's own fisheries activities, which they said should be dealt with elsewhere;

- a new clause stipulated that the Commission's decision on the Community financial contribution provided for in Article 6 of Decision 2004/465/EC should be based on "objective criteria which take account of shortcomings in existing control systems, the size of Exclusive Economic Zones and all zones which are to be monitored by the Member States and the number of fishermen subject to controls";

- the committee raised - from 50% as proposed by the Commission to 75% - the maximum rate of cofinancing for the purchase and modernisation of vessels and aircraft used for inspection and surveillance;

- the Commission should submit an interim assessment report to Parliament and Council by 31 December 2006.