COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 04.12.1997 
COM(97)655 final 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION ŒO 
allocating, for 1998, catch quotas between Member States 
for vessels fishing in Lithuanian waters 
(presented by the Commission) 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
Consultations between the Community and Lithuania took place in Brussels from 15 to 16 October 
1997 and resulted in an Agreed Record of Conclusions defining a reciprocal fisheries arrangement for 
1998. 
These consultations were held on the basis of the new Agreement on Fisheries Relations between the 
European Community and the Republic of Lithuania, signed in Brussels on 20 December 1996. 
The fisheries arrangement for 1998 provides, inter alia, for certain catch quotas for Community 
vessels in the Lithuanian fishing zone in the framework of the exchange of fishing possibilities and 
reciprocal access quotas. 
The purpose of this proposal for a regulation is to allocate among Member States the quotas available 
in 1998 to Community vessels fishing in the Lithuanian zone under the above mentioned arrangement. 
As a consequence of the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden to the European Union, in 
particular Article 121, paragraph 1, footnote 9 of the table, Member States of the Community, as 
constituted before enlargement, have been compensated for their lower share of the cod stock up to the 
level required by the Council Declaration. 
Lithuania is compensated for the quotas obtained in its waters by way of a financial contribution of 
ECU 563,510, in accordance with Article 4 of the Agreement on Fisheries Relations between the 
European Community and the Republic of Lithuania. 
L 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No /98 
of.... December 1997 
allocating, for 1998, 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 , and in particular Article 8 (4) thereof, 
I laving regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Whereas, in accordance with the procedure provided for in the Agreement on fisheries relations 
between the European Community and the Republic of Lithuania , and in particular Articles 3 mid 6 
thereof, the Community and Lithuania have held consultations concerning their mutual fishing rights 
for 1998 and the management of common living resources; 
Whereas, in the course of these consultations, the delegations agreed to recommend to their respective 
authorities that certain catch quotas for 1998 should be fixed for the vessels of the other Party; 
Whereas the necessary measures should be taken to implement, for 1998, the results of the 
consultations held with Lithuania; 
Whereas to ensure efficient management of the catch possibilities available in Lithuanian waters, the 
quotas should be allocated among the Member States in accordance with Article 8 of Regulation 
(EEC) No 3760/92; 
Whereas the fishing activities covered by this Regulation are subject to the control measures provided 
for by Council Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93 of 12 October 1993 establishing a control system 
applicable to the common fisheries policy ; 
Whereas additional conditions for the year-to-year management of TACs and quotas, in accordance 
with the provisions laid down in Article 2 of Council Regulation (EC) No 847/96(4), were not agreed 
with Lithuania; 
Whereas, for imperative reasons of common interest, this Regulation will apply from 1 January 1998; 
{1) OJ No L 389, 31.12.1992, p. 1. Regulation as amended by the 1994 Act of Accession 
(2) OJ No L 332, 20.12.1996, p.6. 
(3) • OJ No L261, 20.10.1993, p. 1. 
(4) OJ No L 115, 9.5.1996, p. 3. 
3 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
Article 1 
From 1 January to 31 December 1998 vessels flying the flag of a Member State are hereby authorized 
to make catches within the quota limits set out in the Annex in waters falling within the fisheries 
jurisdiction of Lithuania. 
Article 2 
The financial contribution provided for in Article 4 of the Agreement on Fisheries Relations between 
the European Community and the Republic of Lithuania shall be set for the period referred to in 
Article 1 at ECU 563,510, payable to an account designated by Lithuania. 
Article 3 
Stocks referred to in the Annex shall not be subject to the conditions stipulated in Articles 2,3 and 5 
(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 847/96. 
Article 4 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the 
European Communities. It shall apply from 1 January 1998. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. 
Done at Brussels,.... December 1997. 
For the Council 
The President 
V 
ANNEX 
Allocation of Community catch quotas in Lithuanian waters for 1998 
(in metric tonnes, fresh round weight; for salmon: numbers of individual fish) 
Species 
Cod 
Herring 
Salmon 
Sprat ICES 
division 
IH(d) 
111(d) 
111(d) 
111(d) Community 
catch quotas 
500 
2 000 
4 100 
16 000 Quotas allocated 
to Member States 
Denmark 186 
Finland 80 
Germany 84 
Sweden 150 
Denmark 954 
Finland 0 
Germany 716 
Sweden 330 
Denmark 1595 
Finland 1534 
Germany 177 
Sweden 794 
Denmark 9305 
Finland 0 
Germany 2475 
Sweden 4220 
S 
FINANCIAL STATEMENT 
1. TITLE: Proposal for a Council Regulation allocating for 1998 catch quotas between 
Member States for vessels fishing in Lithuanian waters. 
2. BUDGETARY LINE CONCERNED: B7-800 
3. LEGAL BASIS: Article 8 (4) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3760/92 
4. DESCRIPTION: 
4.1 General objectives: 
• maintain and develop the traditional activity of Community fishermen in 
Lithuanian waters; 
supply the Community market; and 
• decrease the fishing effort in Community waters. 
4.2 Period covered: Year 1998 
5. CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURE: 
5.1 DO 
5.2 CD 
6. TYPE OF EXPENDITURE: 
Financial compensation paid for fishing possibilities in Lithuanian waters. 
7. FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES: ECU 563,510 
The financial compensation provided for in Article 4 of the Agreement has been negotiated on 
the basis of average landing prices for 1996 in Community ports in the Baltic Sea. A deduction 
has been made for estimated fleet exploitation costs for each of the species. 
7.1 Method of calculation: 
Quota obtained (in tonnes) 
Weighted average landing prices 
1996(ECU/tonne) 
Market value (in ECUs) 
Negotiated (percentage) 
In ECUs COD 
1,500 
908 
1,362,000 
25% 
340,500 SALMON 
20.5 
(4,100 units) 
2,284 
46,822 
25% 
11,710 HERRING 
2,000 
166.81 
333,620 
12.5% 
41,700 SPRAT 
16,000 
84.75 
1,356,000 
12.5% 
169,600 
Total financial compensation (Article 4): ECU 563,510 
Average price ECU/tonne: 28.87 
ANTI-FRAUD PROVISIONS: 
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/BENEFIT 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 1997, has 
mainly been used by Lithuania for the continued improvement of scientific research on 
fisheries and the training of fisheries managers. 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 EXPENSES: 
The proposal does not require new Commission staff or additional administrative costs. 
^ 

ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(97) 655 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 03 11 14 
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ISBN 92-78-28467-X 
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