A4-0237/95

Proposal for a Council Decision on a Community financial contribution towards certain expenditures incurred by the Member States in implementing the monitoring and control system applicable to the common fisheries policy (COM(95)0243 - C4-0269/95 - 95/0142(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital 2a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas control cannot achieve the desired results unless operators in the sector recognize its soundness, the ease with which it can be implemented and the small investment cost;

(Amendment 2)

Recital 2b (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas respect for measures involving the conservation and management of fishery resources implies that all those working in the fisheries sector are given responsibility for them and also implies better coordination with the authorities in the various Member States responsible for implementing controls;

(Amendment 3)

Recital 4a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the control programme must be based on a risk analysis of the areas most likely to be the subject of fraudulent or irregular activity;

(Amendment 4)

Recital 6

>Original text>

Whereas it is therefore appropriate to provide for a contribution by the Community towards certain inspection and monitoring expenditures incurred by some Member States;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, in order to ensure supervision of all the catches and landings required if the common fisheries policy is to be really implemented, Member States must, in all maritime waters, monitor the activities of Community and third-country vessels, whereas a significant Community contribution towards certain inspection and monitoring expenditures incurred by the Member States is therefore required;

(Amendment 5)

Recital 8

>Original text>

Whereas the total Community contribution should remain within the limits of a budget provision of ECU 41 million per annum for a period of five years (1996- 2000) and the corresponding financial resources should be entered as annual appropriations in the general budget of the European Communities;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas an amount of ECU 200 million is proposed as a financial reference illustrating the will of the legislative authority for the implementation of the actions covered by this Decision for a five-year period (1996-2000), in so far as this financial reference is consistent with the Financial Perspective ceilings in category 3 for the current period;

(Amendment 6)

Article 1(3)

>Original text>

3. The maximum amount of Community expenditure deemed necessary to carry out the scheme introduced by this Decision shall be ECU 41 million per annum.

>Text following EP vote>

3. The Community funding of the actions referred to in Article 3 shall cover a five-year period (1996-2000). The financial reference illustrating the will of the legislative authority for the implementation of the actions covered by this Decision shall be ECU 200 million.

The financial statement shall be revised each year on the basis, especially, of the appropriations decided by the budgetary authority during the annual budgetary procedure.

(Amendment 7)

Article 3(1)

>Original text>

1. The Community financial contribution shall not exceed the following rates per Member State and per annum:

- 35% of the amount of eligible expenditure referred to in Article 2(1);

- 50% of the amount of eligible expenditure referred to in Article 2(2) and (3).

>Text following EP vote>

1. The Community financial contribution shall not exceed, per Member State and per annum, the rate of 50% of the amount of eligible expenditure referred to in Article 2.

The total amount of eligible expenditure referred to in Article 2(2)and (3) should represent at least 30% of the total amount covered by this Decision.

(Amendment 8)

Article 5(1)

>Original text>

1. Member States wishing to benefit from a Community financial contribution towards the expenditure referred to in Article 2 shall forward to the Commission, on the first occasion before 30 September 1995 and subsequently before 31 May of each year, an application for funding for the following year containing the information specified in points 1, 2 and 3 of the Annex hereto. Applications received after those dates shall not be considered except in exceptional, duly justified cases.

>Text following EP vote>

1. Member States wishing to benefit from a Community financial contribution towards the expenditure referred to in Article 2 shall forward to the Commission, on the first occasion before 15 November 1995 and subsequently before 31 May of each year, an application for funding for the following year containing the information specified in points 1, 2 and 3 of the Annex hereto. In order to take account of the constraints of the Member States' budgetary procedures, an annex updating the original application, including a financial commitment statement, should be forwarded to the Commission before 30 September of each year.

(Amendment 9)

Article 7

>Original text>

At the reasoned request of a Member State, the Commission may grant advances up to a maximum of 25% of the Community's annual contribution. That advance shall be deducted from the final amount of the Community contribution to the eligible expenditure actually incurred.

>Text following EP vote>

At the reasoned request, including a financial commitment statement, of a Member State, the Commission may grant advances up to a maximum of 50% of the Community's annual contribution. That advance shall be deducted from the final amount of the Community contribution to the eligible expenditure actually incurred.

(Amendment 10)

Article 9(3a) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

3a. Any sum unduly received and to be recovered shall be repaid to the Commission. Interest for late payment shall be charged on sums not repaid, in compliance with the provisions of the Financial Regulation.

(Amendment 11)

Article 10, third paragraph

>Original text>

If the Commission considers that the facilities are not being used for the intended purpose or in accordance with the conditions set out in this Decision, it shall inform the Member State accordingly. The Member State shall then conduct an administrative inquiry in which Commission officials may participate. The Member State shall inform the Commission of the progress and results of the inquiry and provide the Commission without delay with a copy of the report of the inquiry and the principal data used in preparing it.

>Text following EP vote>

If the Commission considers that the facilities are not being used for the intended purpose or in accordance with the conditions set out in this Decision, it shall inform the Member State accordingly. The Member State shall then conduct an inquiry in which Commission officials shall participate whenever possible. Within a time limit decided by the Commission, the Member State shall inform it of the progress and results of the inquiry and provide the Commission without delay with a copy of the report of the inquiry and the principal data used in preparing it.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision on a Community financial contribution towards certain expenditures incurred by the Member States in implementing the monitoring and control system applicable to the common fisheries policy(COM(95)0243 - C4-0269/95 - 95/0142(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(95)0243 - 95/0142(CNS)) ((OJ C 186, 20.7.1995, p. 9.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 43 of the EC Treaty (C4-0269/95),

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

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Fisheries and the opinions of the Committee on Budgets and the Committee on Budgetary Control (A4- 0237/95),

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.