EN Official Journal of the European Union L 229/5

COMMISSION DECISION

of 13 August 2008

amending Decision C(2006) 4332 fixing an annual indicative allocation by Member State for the period from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013 of the Community commitment appropriations from the European Fisheries Fund

(notified under document number C(2008) 4358)

(2008/693/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1198/2006 of 27 July 2006 on the European Fisheries Fund (1), and in particular Article 14 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Commission Decision C(2006) 4332 of 4 October 2006 (2), fixed for the period from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013 an annual indicative allocation by Member State, of the Community commitment appropriations for the regions eligible for funding from the European Fisheries Fund (hereinafter EFF) under the non-Convergence objective, of the Community commitment appropriations for the regions eligible for funding from the EFF under the Convergence objective and of the total Community commitment appropriations from the EFF.

(2) Under point 48 of the Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission of 17 May 2006 on budgetary discipline and sound financial management (3), the European Parliament and the Council authorised by Decision 2008/371/EC the transfer to subsequent years of the allocations not used in 2007 as a result of delays in the adoption of certain operational programmes.

(3) Article 74 of Regulation (EC) No 1198/2006 provides that the first budget commitment shall be made available before the adoption by the Commission of the decision approving the operational programme. Article 75 paragraph 2 of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (4) provides that the commitment of the expenditure shall be preceded by a financing decision adopted by the institution or the authorities to which powers have been delegated by the institution. To that end, this Commission Decision will also constitute the financing decision for the operational programmes of Belgium, Ireland, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, Hungary and United Kingdom that have not been adopted in 2007 and therefore allowing for the first budget commitment in respect of the above operational programmes before the adoption of the Decision of the Commission approving the above operational programmes.

(4) Decision C(2006) 4332 should be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Annex I to the Decision C(2006) 4332 is replaced by the Annex attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The contribution from the EFF for 2008 in respect of the operational programmes for Belgium, Ireland, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, Hungary and United Kingdom, separately, for the Convergence and the non-Convergence objectives amount respectively to EUR 138 122 568 and 26 140 015, at current prices and shall be charged accordingly against budget lines 11 06 12 and 11 06 13.

Article 3

This Decision shall apply from the third day after adoption.

Article 4

The Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 13 August 2008. For the Commission Joe BORG Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 223, 15.8.2006, p. 1.

(2) Decision as amended by Decision 2007/218/EC (OJ L 95, 5.4.2007, p. 37).

(3) OJ C 139, 14.6.2006, p. 1. Agreement as last amended by Decision 2008/371/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 128, 16.5.2008, p. 8).

(4) OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1525/2007 (OJ L 343, 27.12.2007, p. 9).