Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION fixing for the 2004 fishing year the guide prices and Community producer prices for certain fishery products pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 104/2000

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 104/2000 on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products requires a guide price to be fixed for each of the products listed in Annex I and each of the products and groups of products listed in Annex II thereto. The calculation is made on the basis of the average of prices recorded for a significant proportion of Community output on wholesale markets or in ports during the three fishing years immediately preceding the year for which the price is fixed.

When fixing those prices, account is also taken of trends in production and demand and other factors such as the need to ensure stable market prices and support producers' incomes and the interests of consumers.

Compared with the period 2000-2002, average prices for white fish have fallen considerably over the period 2001-2003, with decreases of between -2% and -6% for most species and peaks down to -18%. During the first half of 2003, prices for white fish were generally lower than during the same period of the previous year. In the light of this unfavourable market situation, the Commission proposes decreases in the guide prices for most species of white fish of between -0,5% and -6%. On the other hand, the Commission recommends slight increases of between +1% and +1,5% for plaice, megrim, whole monkfish and sole. It is also proposed maintaining the price for dogfish at its current level.

As regards pelagic species, the change in average prices over 2001-2003 compared to 2000-2002 ranged from -7% to +16%. While prices for sardines, mackerel and anchovy have been increasing, the situation for herring, Spanish mackerel and albacore has deteriorated. The Commission is therefore proposing increases of the prices for these species between +1,5% (sardines and mackerel) and +2,5% (anchovies), except for herring, albacore and Spanish mackerel (decreases between -0,5% and -2%).

As regards other species, in particular crustaceans, the recent market situation has been less favourable. The Commission, therefore, proposes decreases in the corresponding prices.

Prices for frozen products have tended to decrease on the international markets with the exception of cuttlefish, octopus and prawns (other Penaeidae), for which the Commission proposes increases between +1% and +2%. The Commission also proposes maintaining current guide prices for squids (Loligo), common squids and Illex.

Furthermore, Article 26 of Council Regulation (EC) No 104/2000 requires a Community producer price to be fixed for tuna intended for the canning industry. The calculation is made on the basis of the average of prices recorded for a significant proportion of Community output on wholesale markets or in ports during the three fishing years immediately preceding the year for which the price is fixed.

The average Community price rose slightly in the period 2001-2003 compared with 2000-2002, although this trend reversed in the first six months of 2002. In the light of this market situation, the Commission proposes maintaining the Community producer price for 2004 at its current level.

Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION fixing for the 2004 fishing year the guide prices and Community producer prices for certain fishery products pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 104/2000

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 104/2000 of 17 December 1999 on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products [1], and in particular Article 18(3) and Article 26(1) thereof,

[1] OJ L 17, 21.1.2000, p. 22.

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1) Article 18(1) and Article 26(1) of Regulation (EC) No 104/2000 provide that a guide price and a Community producer price should be fixed for each fishing year in order to determine price levels for intervention on the market for certain fisheries products.

(2) Article 18(1) of Regulation (EC) No 104/2000 requires the guide price to be fixed for each of the products and groups of products listed in Annexes I and II to that Regulation.

(3) On the basis of the data currently available on the prices for the products concerned and the criteria referred to in Article 18(2) of Regulation (EC) No 104/2000, the guide prices should be increased, maintained or reduced for the 2004 fishing year depending on the species.

(4) Regulation (EC) No 104/2000 requires the Community producer price to be fixed for each of the products listed in Annex III to that Regulation. It is, however, sufficient to establish the Community producer price for only one of the products listed in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 104/2000 since the prices for the other products may be calculated by means of the conversion factors established by Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3510/82 [2].

[2] OJ L 368, 28.12.1982, p. 27. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3899/92 (OJ L 392, 31.12.1992, p. 24).

(5) On the basis of the criteria laid down in the first and second indent of Article 18(2) and in Article 26(1) of Regulation (EC) No 104/2000, the Community producer price for the 2004 fishing year should be maintained,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

For the fishing year from 1 January to 31 December 2004, the guide prices as provided for in Article 18(1) of Regulation (EC) No 104/2000 shall be as set out in Annex I to this Regulation.

Article 2

For the fishing year from 1 January to 31 December 2004, the Community producer prices as provided for in Article 26(1) of Regulation (EC) No 104/2000 shall be as set out in Annex II to this Regulation.

Article 3

This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 January 2004.

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

Done at Brussels, [...]

For the Council

The President

ANNEX I

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ANNEX II

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The Community producer prices for the other products listed in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 104/2000 shall be determined by means of the conversion factors referred to in Regulation (EEC) No 3510/82.

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