Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION amending Regulation No 61/1999 allocating, for 1999, catch quotas between Member States for vessels fishing in Lithuanian waters

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

On the basis of the Agreement on Fisheries relations between the European Community and the Republic of Lithuania of 20 December 1996 [1], additional consultations were held in 1999. They resulted in an agreement, by way of an exchange of letters, on a transfer of an additional quota of 5,000 tonnes of sprat from Lithuania to the Community.

[1] OJ L 332, 20.12.1996, p. 7.

Lithuania is compensated by way of a financial contribution of EUR 62,500, in accordance with Article 4 of the Agreement.

The objective of this proposal is to amend Council Regulation (EC) No 61/1999 [2] so as to allocate among Member States the additional quota of sprat for 1999 in Lithuanian waters.

[2] OJ L 13, 18.1.1999, p. 111.

Proposal for a

COUNCIL REGULATION

amending Regulation No 61/1999 allocating, for 1999, catch quotas between Member States for vessels fishing in Lithuanian waters

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 3760/92 of 20 December 1992 establishing a Community system for fisheries and aquaculture [3], and in particular Article 8 (4) thereof,

[3] OJ L 389, 31.12.1992, p.1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No. 1181/98 (OJ L 164, 9.6.1998, p. 1).

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 61/1999 allocates, for 1999, catch quotas between Member States for vessels fishing in Lithuanian waters [4];

[4] OJ L 13, 18.1.1999, p. 111.

(2) In accordance with the procedure provided for in the Agreement on fisheries relations between the European Community and the Republic of Lithuania [5], and in particular Articles 3 and 6 thereof, the Community and Lithuania have held further consultations concerning their mutual fishing rights for 1999 and the management of common living resources;

[5] OJ L 332, 20.12.1996, p. 7.

(3) In the course of these consultations, agreement was reached on a transfer of an additional quota of 5,000 tonnes of sprat from Lithuania to the Community;

(4) To ensure efficient management of the catch possibilities available in Lithuanian waters, the additional quota should be allocated among the Member States in accordance with Article 8 of Regulation (EEC) No 3760/92;

(5) Regulation (EC) No 61/1999 should be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

In the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 61/1999, the entry referring to sprat shall be replaced by that set out in the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2

The financial contribution for the additional quota of sprat provided for in Article 4 of the Agreement on Fisheries Relations between the European Community and the Republic of Lithuania shall be set at EUR 62,500, payable to an account designated by Lithuania.

Article 3

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President

ANNEX

Allocation of Community catch quotas in Lithuanian waters for 1999 (in metric tonnes, fresh round weight)

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FINANCIAL STATEMENT

1. Title of operation

Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 61/1999 allocating, for 1999, catch quotas between Member States for vessels fishing in Lithuanian waters.

2. Budget heading(s) involved

B7-800

3. Legal basis

Article 8 (4) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3760/92

4. Description of operation

4.1 General objective

o maintain and develop the traditional activity of Community fishermen in Lithuanian waters;

o supply the Community market; and

o decrease the fishing effort in Community waters.

4.2 Specific objective

financial compensation to be paid in exchange of an additional quota of sprat

4.3 Period covered and arrangements for renewal

Year 1999

5. Classification of expenditure or revenue

5.1 Compulsory/Non-compulsory expenditure

5.2 Differentiated/Non-differentiated appropriations

6. Type of expenditure or revenue

Financial compensation paid for fishing possibilities in Lithuanian waters.

7. Financial impact

EUR 62,500

The additional financial compensation provided for in Article 4 of the Agreement has been negotiated on the basis of average landing prices for 1997 in Community ports in the Baltic Sea. A deduction has been made for estimated fleet exploitation costs.

7.1 Method of calculating total cost of operation (relation between individual and total costs)

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Average price EUR/tonne: 12.5

8. Fraud prevention measures

The financial contribution granted by the Community is utilised by Lithuania to develop its fisheries sector in accordance with Article 4 of the Agreement. The amount is administered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Lithuania.

9. Elements of cost-effectiveness analysis

The Community fleet in the Baltic Sea has been severely hit by reductions in catch possibilities, mainly due to biological factors (low salinity of the water and the M-74 disease) and pollution of the water. Any increase in fishing possibilities above current critical catch levels will contribute towards preventing the fleet, and connected industries and services ashore, from collapsing and disappearing. This will also avoid, to a certain extent, payments under lay-up schemes or social programmes.

Experience has taught us that the financial compensation, similar to that paid in previous years, has mainly been used by Lithuania for the continued improvement of scientific research on fisheries and the training of fisheries managers and control activities. This has entailed improved scientific assessment and enforcement in the fishery zone of Lithuania and has contributed to a more rational exploitation of the stocks, to the benefit of all concerned in the Baltic Sea.

The expenses proposed are foreseen in the budgetary planning for the period concerned.

10. Administrative expenditure (Section III, Part A of the budget)

The proposal does not require new Commission staff or additional administrative costs.