COMMISSION DECISION
of 30 May 2006
on a Community financial contribution towards Member States’ fisheries control, inspection and surveillance programmes for 2006
(notified under document number C(2006) 2062)
(2006/392/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Decision 2004/465/EC of 29 April 2004 on a Community financial contribution towards Member States fisheries control programmes (1), as amended by Council Decision 2006/2/EC of 21 December 2005 (2), and in particular Article 6(1) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Member States have forwarded to the Commission their fisheries control programme for 2006 together with the applications for a Community financial contribution towards the expenditure to be incurred in carrying out the projects contained in such programme.
(2)
Applications concerning actions listed in Article 4 of Council Decision 2004/465/EC may qualify for Community funding.
(3)
It is appropriate to fix the maximum amounts and the rate of the Community financial contribution and to lay down the conditions under which such contribution may be granted.
(4)
In order to qualify for the contribution, automatic localisation devices should satisfy the requirements fixed by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2244/2003 of 18 December 2003 laying down detailed provisions regarding satellite-based Vessel Monitoring Systems (3).
(5)
Member States must in accordance with Article 8 of Council Decision 2004/465/EC commit their expenditure within a period of 12 months from the end of the year in which the present Decision is notified to them. They must also comply with the provisions of Decision 2004/465/EC as regards starting their projects and submitting applications for reimbursement.
(6)
The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Subject matter
This Decision provides for a Community financial contribution for 2006 towards actions referred to in Article 4 of Decision 2004/465/CE. It establishes the amount of the Community financial contribution for each Member State, the rate of the Community financial contribution and the conditions on which such contribution may be granted.
Article 2
New technologies and IT networks
Expenditure incurred on the purchase of, installation and technical assistance for, computer technology and setting up of IT networks in order to allow efficient and secure data exchange in connection with monitoring, control and surveillance of fisheries activities, shall qualify for a financial contribution of 50 % of the eligible expenditure within the limits laid down in Annex I.
Article 3
Automatic localisation devices
1. Expenditure incurred in the purchase and fitting on board of fishing vessels of automatic localisation devices enabling vessels to be monitored at a distance by a fisheries monitoring centre through a vessel monitoring system (VMS) shall qualify for a maximum financial contribution of EUR 4 500 per vessel within the limits established in Annex II.
2. Within the EUR 4 500 limit provided for in paragraph 1, the financial contribution for the first EUR 1 500 of eligible expenditure shall be at a rate of 100 %.
3. The financial contribution for eligible expenditure comprised between EUR 1 500 and EUR 4 500 per vessel shall amount to a maximum of 50 % of such expenditure.
4. In order to qualify, automatic localisation devices shall satisfy the requirements fixed by Regulation (EC) No 2244/2003.
Article 4
Pilot projects on new technologies
Expenditure incurred in pilot projects relating to the implementation of new technologies to improve the monitoring of fisheries activities shall qualify for a financial contribution of 50 % of the eligible expenditure within the limits laid down in Annex III.
Article 5
Training
Expenditure incurred on training and exchange programmes of civil servants responsible for monitoring control and surveillance tasks in the fisheries area shall qualify for a financial contribution of 50 % of the eligible expenditure within the limits laid down in Annex IV.
Article 6
Assessment of expenditure
Expenditure incurred in implementing a system to assess expenditure incurred in controlling the Common fisheries policy shall qualify for a financial contribution of 50 % of the eligible expenditure within the limits laid down in Annex V.
Article 7
Seminars and media tools
Expenditure incurred in initiatives including seminar and media tools aimed at enhancing awareness among fishermen and other players such as inspectors, public prosecutors and judges, as well as among the general public on the need to fight irresponsible and illegal fishing and on the implementation of Common fisheries policy rules, shall qualify for a financial contribution of 75 % of the eligible expenditure within the limits laid down in Annex VI.
Article 8
Fisheries patrol vessels and aircraft
Expenditure related to the purchase and modernisation of vessels and aircraft used for inspection and surveillance of fishing activities by the competent authorities of the Member States shall qualify, within the limits laid down in Annex VII, for a financial contribution not exceeding:
-
50 % of the eligible expenditure incurred by Member States which acceded to the European Union on 1 May 2004;
-
25 % of the eligible expenditure incurred by other Member States.
Article 9
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 30 May 2006.