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Brussels, 9.6.2006

COM(2006) 285 final

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

on the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 485/2005 of 16 March 2005 regarding a specific action for transfers of vessels to countries hit by tsunami in 2004

SUMMARY

On 16 March 2005 the Council unanimously adopted the Regulation (EC) No 485/2005 amending Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 with regard to a specific action for transfers of vessels to countries hit by the tsunami in 2004.

The present report, prepared in accordance with Article 18(b)(2) of the amended Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 requiring the Commission to report to the European Parliament and the Council on transfers of vessels on the basis of information provided by Member States, mentions that Member States have not identified any possibility for transfers of vessels. The reasons invoked by Member States in their replies to Commission’s requests for information are that there have been no appropriate vessels available among the vessels to be decommissioned, that decommissioning was not foreseen or that the incentives provided for the transfer of vessels were not sufficiently attractive.

Therefore, there will be no transfers of vessels before the deadline of 30 June 2006, specified in the Regulation. The present report can be considered as the first and final report prepared pursuant to Article 18(b)(2) of the amended Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999.

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

on the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 485/2005 of 16 March 2005 regarding a specific action for transfers of vessels to countries hit by tsunami in 2004

The present report is prepared pursuant to Article 18(b)(2) of Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 as amended by Council Regulation(EC) No 485/2005 of 16 March 2005 with regard to a specific action for transfers of vessels to countries hit by the tsunami in 2004.

This Regulation which was unanimously adopted by the Council extends the possibility of withdrawal of fishing vessels from the Community fishing fleet with public aid to vessels which can be transferred to the countries affected by the tsunami for the benefit of the fishing communities concerned.

In order to match the needs identified by the FAO and the third countries requests with the offers of vessels in Member States, the Commission sent a questionnaire to the third countries concerned. This questionnaire recalled the limitations specified in the Regulation on the vessels, which can be transferred. At the same time, the Commission requested the Member States to be informed of the size of the potential offer of vessels.

Sri Lanka made a request for 120 decommissioned vessels with an overall length of 9-12 metres. The Commission informed Member States about this request and reminded them on several occasions of the obligation to report by 30 September 2005 about such transfers according to Article 18(b)(1) of the amended Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 (FIFG, Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance).

Member States are responsible for decommissioning of vessels within the programmes adopted under the FIFG Regulation.

All twenty Member States with a coastline and marine fisheries have informed the Commission that they have not identified any possibility for transfers of vessels under the amended FIFG Regulation.

The reasons invoked by Member States were that there were no appropriate vessels available among the vessels to be decommissioned, that decommissioning was not foreseen or that the incentives provided for the transfer of vessels were not sufficiently attractive.

Furthermore, because there will be no transfers of vessels before the deadline of 30 June 2006 specified in the Regulation, the present report can also be considered as the final report in response to Article 18(b)(2) of the amended FIFG Regulation.