COMMISSION DECISION of 30 July 1991 on a concerted measure for the implementation of a socio-economic pilot scheme in the fisheries and aquaculture sector in the United Kingdom (Only the English text is authentic) (91/418/EEC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 4028/86 of 18 December 1986 on Community measures to improve and adapt structures in the fisheries and aquaculture sector (1), and in particular Article 32 (1) thereof,
Whereas there is considerable imbalance between the Community fishing fleet capacity and the available resources;
Whereas it is an objective of the common fisheries policy to combat that imbalance; whereas new initiatives are needed to ensure the success of the policy;
Whereas in adopting on 20 December 1990 Regulation (EEC) No 3944/90 (2), amending Regulation (EEC) No 4028/86, the Council stressed in particular that no structural policy measure in the fisheries sector could be successful if, concomitantly, attention was not given to its socio-economic consequences, particularly as regards employment and the development of regions heavily dependant on fishing;
Whereas it is necessary to identify the areas socially and economically dependent on fishing and related activities which are likely to be the most seriously affected by the Common Fisheries Policy, and to define for those areas appropriate socio-economic flanking measures in order to improve the economic and social cohesion of the Community;
Whereas the Commission at present has no information enabling it to define precisely the nature and scope of such measures; whereas the implementation of a small-scale pilot scheme to deal with a representative case of socio-economic problems of Community importance would yield general information and guidance for the planning and implementation of the socio-economic measures envisaged;
Whereas such a scheme can constitute a concerted measure within the meaning of the third indent of Article 32 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No 4028/86; whereas Community assistance should therefore be provided;
Whereas by analogy with Article 26 (5) of Regulation (EEC) No 4028/86 as amended by Article 1, point 25 of Regulation (EEC) No 3944/90 the assistance should be fixed at 50 % of the expenditure taken into consideration, hereafter referred to as 'eligible expenditure'; whereas on the basis of information provided by the United Kingdom authorities the maximum amount of assistance should be ECU 50 000;
Whereas the general conditions for the implementation of the concerted measure and the conditions for the grant of Community financial assistance must be laid down;
Whereas this Decision is in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee for the Fishing Industry,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
1. A concerted measure for the implementation of a pilot scheme in the United Kingdom, hereafter referred to as 'concerted measure', is hereby set up. The details are given in Annex I.
2. The Commission shall provide financial assistance for the implementation of the concerted measure. The assistance shall consist of a capital grant equivalent to 50 % of the eligible expenditure but not exceeding ECU 50 000, paid in accordance with the conditions in Annex II.
Article 2
This Decision is addressed to the United Kingdom. Done at Brussels, 30 July 1991.