COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2022/499

of 23 March 2022

approving amendments to national plans, as regards Cyprus and Slovenia, for the implementation of the validation systems in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009

(notified under document C(2022)1844)

(Only the Greek and Slovenian texts are authentic)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy, amending Regulations (EC) No 847/96, (EC) No 2371/2002, (EC) No 811/2004, (EC) No 768/2005, (EC) No 2115/2005, (EC) No 2166/2005, (EC) No 388/2006, (EC) No 509/2007, (EC) No 676/2007, (EC) No 1098/2007, (EC) No 1300/2008, (EC) No 1342/2008 and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 2847/93, (EC) No 1627/94 and (EC) No 1966/2006 (1), and in particular Article 109(8) thereof,

Having regard to the submission of amendments to the national plans for the implementation of the validation systems by Cyprus and Slovenia,

Whereas:

(1) Pursuant to Article 109(8) of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 Member States are to establish national plans for the implementation of the validation system for data recorded in accordance with that Regulation, which allow Member States to make priorities for the validation and cross-checks and subsequent follow-up on inconsistencies based on risk management. Amendments to those plans are to be submitted to the Commission for approval.

(2) On 23 June 2021, Slovenia submitted for approval to the Commission amendments to its existing national plan that had been approved by Commission Implementing Decision 2013/82/EU (2). Those amendments comply with the conditions laid down in Article 109 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 and in Articles 143 to 145 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 404/2011 (3). They should therefore be approved.

(3) On 3 September 2021, Cyprus submitted for approval to the Commission amendments to its existing national plan that had been approved by Implementing Decision 2013/82/EU. Those amendments comply with the conditions laid down in Article 109 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 and in Articles 143 to 145 of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 404/2011. They should therefore be approved.

(4) This Decision constitutes the approval decision within the meaning of Article 109(8) of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009.

(5) The Commission will monitor the application of the national plans with respect to their effective operation. If the findings of the verifications, inspections and audits carried out by the Commission within the framework of Title X of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 show that the plans do not have the capacity to ensure that data reported to the Commission in accordance with Article 33 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 are complete, accurate and reported within the applicable deadlines, the Commission may request the Member States to amend their plan accordingly.

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 The amendments to the national plan for the implementation of the validation system submitted on 3 September 2021 by Cyprus, in accordance with Article 109(8) of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, are approved.

Article 2 The amendments to the national plan for the implementation of the validation system submitted on 23 June 2021 by Slovenia, in accordance with Article 109(8) of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, are approved.

Article 3 If, on the basis of the findings of the verifications, inspections and audits carried out within the framework of Title X of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, the Commission considers that the validation plans approved in accordance with Articles 1 and 2 do not ensure effective implementation by Member States of the obligations laid down in Article 109 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, it may, after having consulted the Member States concerned, request the amendment of the plans. Member States shall amend their validation plan in accordance with such request.

Article 4 This Decision is addressed to the Republic of Cyprus and to the Republic of Slovenia.

Done at Brussels, 23 March 2022. For the Commission Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 1.

(2) Commission Implementing Decision 2013/82/EU of 13 February 2013 on the approval by the Commission of national plans for the implementation of the validation systems in accordance with Article 109(8) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 (OJ L 44, 15.2.2013, p. 18).

(3) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 404/2011 of 8 April 2011 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy (OJ L 112, 30.4.2011, p. 1).