* il COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 15.12.1997 
COM(97)711 final 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) 
allocating, for 1998, Community catch quotas in Greenland waters 
(presented by the Commission) 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
The European Community and the Government of Denmark and the Home Rule Government of 
Greenland agreed to extend their Fisheries Agreement in 1994 for an additional period of six years 
until 31 December 2000. The Parties to the Agreement subsequently agreed on a Third Fisheries 
Protocol covering the same six years and laying down the terms and conditions for fishing by 
Community vessels in Greenland waters, in particular catch quotas for the Community for each year 
of the Protocol. They also agreed to allow for the establishment of joint ventures and temporary 
associations. 
The Agreement allows for the quantities to be taken by vessels which do not fly the flag of a Member 
State of the Community, to the extent where this is necessary for the proper functioning of the 
fisheries agreements concluded by the Community with other Parties. 
Under the provisions of the Third Fisheries Protocol, the authorities responsible for Greenland 
undertake to offer to the Community, by 15 November each year, such supplementary catch 
possibilities as referred to in Article 8 of the Agreement, which at that time are expected to be 
available in the following year. On 7 November 1997, the Greenland Home Rule authorities offered 
supplementary quantities for 1998: 
Cod 
Redfish (demersal) 
Redfish (pelagic) 
Greenland halibut 
Greenland halibut 
Halibut 
Halibut 
Catfish 
Blue whiting 
Roundnose grenadier 
Roundnose grenadier NAFO 0,1; ICES V, XIV 
ICES V, XIV 
ICES V, XIV 
NAFO 0,1 
ICES V, XIV 
NAFO 0,1 
ICES V, XIV 
NAFO 0,1 
ICES V, XIV 
NAFO 0,1 
ICES V, XIV 2,0001 
15,0001 
11,5001 
1,7501 
1,8001 
4001 
4001 
5,0001 
10,0001 
1,775 t 
1,575 t 
Depending on the outcome of negotiations between the Community and Norway and considering the 
quantities of the species concerned already available to the Community for 1998 under the Third 
Fisheries Protocol, it may be felt to be in the Community's interest to accept one or more of the 
supplementary quantities offered by the Greenland Home Rule Government. To that end, the 
Commission will complete its proposal as soon as possible. 
Therefore, the Commission proposes that the Council should agree to react appropriately to the 
supplementary catch possibilities referred to above and to allocate the annual catch quotas in 
Greenland waters by adopting the attached Council Regulation. 

Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No /98 
of.... December 1997 
allocating, for 1998, Community catch quotas in Greenland 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, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Whereas the Agreement on fisheries between the European Community, on the one hand, and the 
Government of Denmark and the Home Rule Government of Greenland, on the other hand , has been 
extended for an additional period of six years, until 31 December 2000; 
Whereas the European Community, on the one hand, and the Government of Denmark and the Home 
Rule Government of Greenland, on the other hand, have subsequently approved the Third Fisheries 
Protocol, establishing the conditions for fishing and, in particular, the catch quotas for Community 
vessels in Greenland waters for the period from 1 January 1995 to 31 December 2000; 
Whereas these quotas may be used by vessels not flying the flag of a Member State of the 
Community, to the extent that this is necessary for the proper functioning of the fisheries agreements 
which the Community has concluded with third countries; 
Whereas the Community shall inform the authorities responsible for Greenland of its reaction to 
offers regarding supplementary catch possibilities, as referred to in Article 8 of the Fisheries 
Agreement, not later than six weeks after receipt of the offer; 
Whereas, to ensure efficient management of the catch possibilities available, they should be allocated 
among Member States by means of quotas in accordance with Article 8 of Regulation (EEC) No 
3760/92; 
Whereas the fishing activities covered by this Regulation are subject to the relevant control measures 
provided for by Council Regulation (EC) No 2847/93 of 12 October 1993, establishing a control 
system applicable to the common fisheries policy ; 
Whereas no agreement has been reached with the authorities responsible for Greenland on whether 
the relevant fish stocks should be subject to the provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No. 847/96 of 
6 May 1996 introducing additional conditions for year-to-year management of TACs and quotas4, 
OJ No L 389, 31.12.1992, p. 1. Regulation as amended by the 1994 Act of Accession 
OJNoL 29, 1.2.1985, p. 9. 
OJNoL 261,20.10.1993, p. 1. 
OJNoL 115, 9.5.1996, p. 3 
3 
Whereas, for imperative reasons of common interest, this Regulation will apply from 1 January 1998, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION 
Article 1 
For 1998, the allocation of the Community catch quotas in Greenland waters shall be as set out in the 
Annex. 
Article 2 
Fishing quotas set out in the Annex shall not be subject to the conditions laid down in Articles 2, 3 
and 5 (2) of Council Regulation (EC) No. 847/96. 
Article 3 
Should the authorities responsible for Greenland make an offer regarding supplementary catch 
possibilities, as referred to in Article 8 of the Fisheries Agreement, the Council shall, acting by a 
qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission, take a decision on that offer within six weeks 
of receipt thereof. 
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 
*i 
ANNEX 
Allocation of Community catch quotas in Greenland waters for 1998 
Species 
Cod 
Redfish 
Greenland 
halibut 
Deep-water 
prawns 
Atlantic 
halibut(2) 
Catfish 
Blue whiting 
Capelin 
Roundnose 
grenadier 
Roundnose 
grenadier(3) 
Polar cod(4) Geographical 
area 
all zones 
NAFO 0/1 
ICES XIV/V(1) 
NAFO 0/1 
ICES XIV/V 
ICES XIV/V(5) 
NAFO 0/1 
ICES XIV/V 
NAFO 0/1 
ICES XIV/V 
ICES XIV/V 
ICES XIV/V 
NAFO 0/1 
ICES XIV/V 
all zones 
all zones Community 
catch quotas 
(in tonnes) 
31000 
6000 
47 820 
1700 
5 550 
5 674 
200 
200 
1000 
1000 
30 000 
111 150(6) 
1350 
5 150 
2000 
2000 Quotas allocated to Member Slates 
Germany 25 360 
United Kingdom 5 640 
Germany 5 395 
United Kingdom 105 
Germany 46 270 
France 330 
United Kingdom 220 
Germany 550 
Germany 4 040 
United Kingdom 210 
France 1 012 
Denmark 1012 
Germany 1000 
Germany 1000 
Denmark 3 000 
France 3 000 
Germany 24 000 
Community 55 150 
Germany 550 
Germany 4 400 
United Kingdom 250 
Community 2 000 
Community 2 000 Quantities 
allocated to 
Norway ^ 
1000(8) 
1000 
1 150 
2 500 
200 (7) 
200 (7) 
16 000 
800 
500 Quantities 
allocated to 
Iceland w 
30 000 Faroese 
quotas 
under EC/ 
Greenland 
500 
150 
150 
1 150 
10 000 
(1) 
(2) 
(3) 
(4) 
(5) 
(6) 
(7) 
(8) 
(9) A maximum of 20 000 tonnes may be fished by pelagic trawl. Catches from the bottom trawl fishery and the pelagic trawl 
fishery shall be reported separately. 
If by-catches of Atlantic halibut in trawl cod and redfish fisheries imply over-runs of this quota, the Greenland authorities will 
provide solutions to the effect that Community cod and redfish fisheries can nevertheless continue until the respective quotas 
have been exhausted. 
Experimental fishery, to be conducted at depths greater than 1 500 metres. The maximum by-catch of Greenland halibut will be 
40% and will be counted against this quota. 
To be fished only by pelagic trawl or longline. A by-catch of up to 10%, excluding deep-water prawns and Greenland halibut, 
will be admitted. The by-catch will be counted against this quota. 
Up to 1 000 tonnes can be caught in NAFO areas 0/1 under agreement with Greenland license holders. 
70% of the Greenland share of the TAC for capelin. Upon revision of the TAC in the course of 1998, the Community quota 
shall be revised accordingly. 
To be fished only with longline. 
May be fished by pelagic trawl. 
Shown for information only. 
S 
FINANCIAL STATEMENT 
1. TITLE: Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) allocating, for 1998, Community 
catch quotas in Greenland 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 objective: 
Establish the definitive fishing quotas to be granted to Norway in Greenland waters in order 
to balance the arrangements on mutual access fishing rights between the Community and 
Norway for 1998. 
4.2 Period covered: 
1 January to 31 December 1998. 
5. CLASSIFICATION OF EXPENDITURE: CD. Obligatory expenditure. 
6. TYPE OF EXPENDITURE: 
Financial compensation under Article 9 (2) of the Third Protocol (see Council Regulation 
(EC) No 3354/94) for supplementary catch possibilities offered by Greenland pursuant to 
Article 8 of the Fisheries Agreement (see Council Regulation (EEC) No 223/85). 
7. AMOUNT OF EXPENDITURE: 
Minimum amount: ECU 958,740 
Maximum amount: ECU 1,757,690 
The amount required to be committed in 1998 is calculated on the basis of a contribution of 
ECU 319.58 per ton of cod-equivalent. This gives the following calculation: 
Minimum amount 
3,000 tonnes of cod-equivalent x 319.58 = 958,740 ECU 
Maximum amount 
5,500 tonnes of cod-equivalent x 319.58 = 1,757,690 ECU 
£ 
8. ANTI-FRAUD PROVISIONS: 
Under the Fisheries Agreement between the Community and Greenland, the financial 
contribution irom the Commission is not subject to any specific provision as to the end use of 
funds. 
9. ELEMENTS OF COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS: 
The bilateral, mutual-access Agreement between the Community and Norway is managed on 
an annual basis, by calculating the balance between Community catch possibilities in 
Norwegian waters and Norwegian catch possibilities in Community waters for different 
species. This arrangement is variable annually according to the state of the different fish 
stocks concerned. For 1998, the arrangements with Norway are particularly difficult to 
achieve due to the poor state of the key fish stocks in Community waters. This situation is 
exacerbated by the continued emergency situation for North Sea herring and the not yet 
satisfactory state of the cod, haddock and mackerel stocks in the North Sea and Western 
Community fishing waters. This fact makes it extremely difficult to compensate the access of 
Community vessels to Norwegian resources with Norwegian access to the poor Community 
resources. On the other hand, the TAC for Arctic cod has been decreased. Likewise, the 
Community share of "cohesion cod" will be lower in 1998 but still has to be compensated. 
Community fishing vessels are dependent on having continued access to high value species in 
Norwegian waters, such as cod, haddock and plaice in the Barents Sea. 
These reasons make it necessary to compensate Norway with some of the catch possibilities 
that are available to the Community under the terms of its Fisheries Agreement with 
Greenland. In order to avoid jeopardising the conservation of fish stocks in Community 
waters whilst at the same time maintaining, to the extent possible, Member States' fishing 
activities, a purchase of supplementary fishing possibilities from Greenland is the only 
available means to achieve a balanced mutual access arrangement with Norway for 1998. 
10. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES: None 
3 
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(97) 711 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 03 11 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-97-731-EN-C 
ISBN 92-78-29679-1 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L-2985 Luxembourg