A4-0463/98

Proposal for a Council decision on a specific measure to encourage diversification out of certain fishing activities and amending Council Decision 97/292/EC (COM(98)0515 - C4-0543/98 - 98/0274(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital 5

>Original text>

(5) Whereas a specific number of fishing vessels flying the Spanish, French, Irish, Italian and United Kingdom flags are affected by the ban on fishing with drift nets imposed by Regulation (EC) No 1239/98; whereas on 28 April 1997 the Council adopted Decision 97/292/EC on a specific measure to encourage Italian fishermen to diversify out of certain fishing activities; whereas there is therefore no need to adopt a new specific measure for the said Italian fishermen; whereas, however, for the sake of clarity, that Decision should be amended to list the cases where aid may be cumulated;

>Text following EP vote>

(5)

Whereas a specific number of fishing vessels flying the Spanish, French, Irish, Italian and United Kingdom flags are affected by the ban on fishing with drift nets imposed by Regulation (EC) No 1239/98; whereas on 28 April 1997 the Council adopted Decision 97/292/EC on a specific measure to encourage Italian fishermen to diversify out of certain fishing activities; whereas there is therefore no need to adopt a new specific measure for the said Italian fishermen; whereas, however, for the sake of clarity, that Decision should be amended to preserve equity between the fishermen of all the Member States concerned;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 10

>Original text>

(10) Whereas the final date for implementing this specific measure must not be later than the date on which the ban on fishing with drift nets comes into force; whereas in any case the commitment by the Member States of the necessary financial means by 31 December 1999, and booking of the expenditure by 31 December 2001, are compatible with the Structural Funds Regulations,

>Text following EP vote>

(10)

Whereas the final date for implementing this specific measure must not be later than the date on which the ban on fishing with drift nets comes into force; whereas in any case the total commitment by the Member States of the necessary financial means by 31 December 1999, and booking of the expenditure by 31 December 2001, are compatible with the Structural Funds Regulations,

(Amendment 3)

Article 2(a), introduction

>Original text>

(a) an individual compensatory payment of up to a maximum of ECU 50 000 if they cease all economic activity before 1 January 2002; this payment:

>Text following EP vote>

(a)

an individual compensatory payment of up to a maximum of ECU 50 000 if they cease all economic activity before 1 January 2002 provided that they are over 50 years of age on that date; this payment:

(Amendment 5)

Article 4(2)(c)

>Original text>

(c) the age of the vessels.

>Text following EP vote>

(c)

the age of the vessels in the specific case of a payment for cessation of activity.

(Amendment 6)

Article 5(2)

>Original text>

2. The Community contribution may run to a maximum of 50% of eligible costs incurred by the Member States. It may not exceed the funding limits for the Member States concerned under the 1994 to 1999 Structural Fund programmes (Community support frameworks, operational programmes and single programming documents for Objective 1 and Objective 5(a)).

>Text following EP vote>

2.

The Community contribution may run to a maximum of 50% of eligible costs incurred by the Member States. It may exceed the funding limits for the Member States concerned under the 1994 to 1999 Structural Fund programmes (Community support frameworks, operational programmes and single programming documents for Objective 1 and Objective 5ain cases where one or more of the Member States concerned is already using or will use all the allocated funding available.

(Amendment 7)

Article 5(3)

>Original text>

3. Save as otherwise provided in this Decision, the payments provided for in Articles 2 and 3 shall be subject to the conditions governing the programmes referred to in paragraph 2; they must therefore be the subject of legally binding commitments in the Member State concerned for which the requisite finance must be specifically committed no later than 31 December 1999. The final date for booking expenditure on these measures shall be 31 December 2001.

>Text following EP vote>

3.

Save as otherwise provided in this Decision, the payments provided for in Articles 2 and 3 shall be subject to the conditions governing the programmes referred to in paragraph 2; they must therefore be the subject of legally binding commitments in the Member State concerned for which the requisite finance must be committed as a whole no later than 31 December 1999. The final date for booking expenditure on these measures shall be 31 December 2001.

(Amendment 8)

ARTICLE 7

Article 1(b)(i) (Decision 97/262/EC)

>Original text>

(i) may be cumulated with aid for the permanent cessation of fishing activities under Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 3699/93. However, point 1.1(a) of Annex III to that Regulation shall not apply;

>Text following EP vote>

(i)

may be cumulated with aid for the permanent cessation of fishing activities under Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 3699/93.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council decision on a specific measure to encourage diversification out of certain fishing activities and amending Council Decision 97/292/EC (COM(98)0515 - C4-0543/98 - 98/0274(CNS))(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(98)0515 - 98/0274(CNS) ((OJ C 314, 13.10.1998, p. 18.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 43 of the EC Treaty (C4-0543/98),

- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Fisheries (A4-0463/98),

1. Approves the Commission proposal, subject to Parliament's amendments;

2. Calls on the Council to notify Parliament should it intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

3. Asks to be consulted again should the Council intend to make substantial modifications to the Commission proposal;

4. Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the Council and Commission.