NL Publicatieblad van de Europese Unie C 291/5

STEUNMAATREGEL VAN DE STATEN — VERENIGD KONINKRIJK

Steunmaatregel van de staten nr. C 39/06 (ex NN 94/05)

Regeling voor personen die voor het eerst aandeelhouder zijn

Uitnodiging om opmerkingen te maken overeenkomstig artikel 88, lid 2, van het EG-Verdrag

(2006/C 291/04)

(Voor de EER relevante tekst)

Bij brief van 13 september 2006, die op de bladzijde na deze samenvatting in de authentieke taal is weergegeven, heeft de Commissie het Verenigd Koninkrijk van Groot-Brittannië en Noord-Ierland in kennis gesteld van haar besluit tot inleiding van de procedure van artikel 88, lid 2, van het EG-Verdrag ten aanzien van bovengenoemde steunmaatregel.

Belanghebbenden kunnen hun opmerkingen kenbaar maken door deze binnen één maand vanaf de datum van deze bekendmaking aan het volgende adres te zenden:

Europese Commissie Directoraat-generaal Visserij Directoraat FISH/D/3 „Juridische aangelegenheden” B-1049 Brussel Fax: (32-2) 295 19 42

Deze opmerkingen zullen ter kennis van het Verenigd Koninkrijk van Groot-Brittannië en Noord-Ierland worden gebracht. Een belanghebbende die opmerkingen kenbaar maakt kan, met opgave van redenen, schriftelijk verzoeken om vertrouwelijke behandeling van zijn identiteit.

SAMENVATTING

In juni 2004 is de Commissie in kennis gesteld van steun die door de Shetland Islands Council, de overheidsinstantie van het Verenigd Koninkrijk voor de Shetland Islands, aan de visserijsector werd verleend en mogelijk onrechtmatig was.

In het kader van de regeling voor personen die voor het eerst aandeelhouder zijn, werden subsidies gegeven in de vorm van een evenredige bijdrage aan de eigen financiële bijdrage voor de aankoop van een aandeel in een bestaand of een nieuw vissersvaartuig. Aan personen van meer dan 18 die nog geen aandeel in een vissersvaartuig bezaten, werd steun verleend ten bedrage van 50 % van de kosten van de aankoop van het aandeel, met een maximum van 7 500 GBP wanneer het een bestaand vissersvaartuig betrof en van 15 000 GBP wanneer het een nieuw vissersvaartuig betrof, met een maximum van 25 % van de waarde van het vaartuig. De steun werd verleend op voorwaarde dat het vaartuig gedurende de volgende vijf jaar voltijds voor de visserij werd ingezet en de begunstigde eigenaar bleef van zijn aandeel in het vissersvaartuig gedurende een periode van vijf jaar met ingang van de datum van ontvangst van de steun.

Overeenkomstig artikel 88, lid 3, van het EG-Verdrag moeten de lidstaten de Commissie van elk voornemen tot invoering of wijziging van steunmaatregelen op de hoogte brengen. Volgens het Verenigd Koninkrijk werd de regeling toegepast van 1982 tot en met 14 januari 2005. Het Verenigd Koninkrijk bevestigde evenwel dat het de Commissie nooit van de regeling op de hoogte had gebracht, hetgeen tot gevolg heeft dat de steunregeling als een nieuwe steunregeling moet worden beschouwd.

Bij Verordening (EG) nr. 659/1999 (1) is geen verjaringstermijn vastgesteld voor het onderzoek naar onrechtmatige steun. In artikel 15 van die verordening is evenwel bepaald dat de bevoegdheden van de Commissie om steun terug te vorderen, verjaren na een termijn van tien jaar, dat deze termijn ingaat op de dag waarop de onrechtmatige steun aan de begunstigde is verleend en dat de verjaring wordt gestuit door elke maatregel van de Commissie. Bijgevolg oordeelt de Commissie dat in dit geval een onderzoek naar steun die méér dan tien jaar vóór door de Commissie enige maatregel werd genomen, is verleend, niet nodig is. De Commissie is van oordeel dat de verjaring werd gestuit door het verzoek om informatie dat zij het Verenigd Koninkrijk op 24 augustus 2004 heeft toegezonden. Bijgevolg is de steun die de begunstigde vóór 24 augustus 1994 werd verleend, verjaard en evalueert de Commissie hierna slechts de steun die werd verleend bij beschikkingen die werden genomen in de periode van 24 augustus 1994 tot en met 14 januari 2005. Volgens de gegevens waarover de Commissie beschikt, zou in die periode ongeveer 8 000 000 GBP in het kader van de regeling zijn uitgekeerd.

Bij deze maatregelen lijkt het te gaan om steunmaatregelen van de staten in de zin van artikel 87 van het EG-Verdrag. Staatssteun kan als verenigbaar met de gemeenschappelijke markt worden verklaard indien hij onder één van de uitzonderingen valt waarin in het EG-Verdrag is voorzien. Staatssteun voor de visserijsector mag als verenigbaar met de gemeenschappelijke markt worden beschouwd indien is voldaan aan de voorwaarden van de Richtsnoeren voor het onderzoek van de nationale steunmaatregelen in de visserij- en aquacultuursector die golden op het ogenblik dat de steun werd verleend (2).

Steun die wordt verleend voor de aankoop van een aandeel in een bestaand vissersvaartuig, mag volgens de Richtsnoeren van 1994, 1997 en 2001 als verenigbaar met de gemeenschappelijke markt worden beschouwd indien de steun bedoeld is om vissers die op zee vissen, in staat te stellen ten dele eigenaar te worden van een vissersvaartuig of om een vissersvaartuig te vervangen nadat het ernstig werd beschadigd (total loss) en dit vaartuig niet ouder is dan 20 jaar en nog minstens tien jaar kan worden gebruikt. De Richtsnoeren van 2004 zijn strenger en verwijzen naar de voorwaarden van artikel 12, lid 3, onder d), en artikel 12, lid 4, onder f), van Verordening (EG) nr. 2792/1999 die aanvullende bepalingen bevatten betreffende de leeftijd van de begunstigde en de lengte over alles van het vaartuig. Volgens de Richtsnoeren van 1994 en 1997 mag het totale bedrag van de verstrekte steun niet meer bedragen dan 30 % van de werkelijke kosten van aankoop van het vaartuig. In de Richtsnoeren van 2001 is dit percentage verlaagd tot 20 %.

In dit stadium van de beoordeling lijkt de steun voor de aankoop van een aandeel in een bestaand vissersvaartuig niet te voldoen aan de voorwaarden van de Richtsnoeren. Bovendien wordt in het kader van de regeling steun verstrekt tot maximum 25 % van de werkelijke kosten van aankoop van het vissersvaartuig, hetgeen onverenigbaar is met de voorwaarden van de Richtsnoeren van 2001.

In verband met de steun die wordt verstrekt voor de aankoop van een aandeel in een nieuw vissersvaartuig, is in punt 2.2.3.1. van de Richtsnoeren van 1994 en 1997 bepaald dat steun voor de bouw van nieuwe vissersvaartuigen als verenigbaar met de gemeenschappeliljke markt mag worden beschouwd indien is voldaan aan de desbetreffende voorwaarden van Verordening (EG) nr. 3699/93. Bij de bouw van de vaartuigen moeten de doelstellingen van het meerjarige oriëntatieprogramma, de verordeningen en richtlijnen inzake hygiëne en veiligheid alsmede de communautaire bepalingen betreffende de meting van schepen in aanmerking worden genomen. De schepen moeten in het communautaire gegevensbestand worden opgenomen.

In de Richtsnoeren van 2001 wordt verwezen naar de voorwaarden van Verordening (EG) nr. 2792/1999 waarin wordt gesteld dat nieuw ingebrachte capaciteit moet worden gecompenseerd door, zonder overheidssteun, aan de vloot een capaciteit te onttrekken die ten minste gelijk is aan de in de betrokken vlootsegmenten ingebrachte nieuwe capaciteit. Tot en met 31 december 2001 gold bovendien dat, indien nog niet aan de doelstellingen was voldaan, de onttrokken capaciteit ten minste 30 % groter moest zijn dan de in de betrokken vlootsegmenten ingebrachte nieuwe capaciteit. Voorts mag steun slechts worden verleend indien de lidstaat de informatie in het kader van de toepassing van het meerjarige oriëntatieprogramma zoals vermeld in artikel 5 van die verordening, heeft verstrekt en haar verplichtingen in het kader van Verordening (EEG) nr. 2930/86 houdende definities van de kenmerken van vissersvaartuigen is nagekomen, de bepalingen van artikel 6 van Verordening (EG) nr. 2792/1999 heeft toegepast en de algemene doelstellingen in het kader van de meerjarige oriëntatieprogramma's in acht heeft genomen.

Aangezien de regeling niet verwijst naar het referentieniveau voor de omvang van de vissersvloot noch naar de eisen inzake hygiëne en veiligheid en er geen verplichting is tot registratie van het vaartuig in het communautaire gegevensbestand, heeft de Commissie in dit stadium ernstige twijfels omtrent de verenigbaarheid van de steun voor de aankoop van een aandeel in een nieuw vaartuig, die in de periode na 1 juli 2001 werd verleend.

Rekening houdend met bovenstaand onderzoek heeft de Commissie besloten geen bezwaren te maken tegen deze steunregeling voor zover de steun voor de aankoop van een aandeel in een nieuw vaartuig vóór 1 juli 2001 is verleend. In verband met de steun die in het kader van de regeling voor de aankoop van een aandeel in een nieuw vaartuig na 1 juli 2001 is verleend en alle steun die is verleend voor de aankoop van een aandeel in tweedehandse vaartuigen, heeft de Commissie in dit stadium ernstige twijfels omtrent de verenigbaarheid van deze steun met de gemeenschappelijke markt.

Overeenkomstig artikel 14 van Verordening (EG) nr. 659/1999 kan alle onrechtmatige steun van de begunstigde worden teruggevorderd.

TEKST VAN DE BRIEF

„(1) The Commission wishes to inform the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland that, having examined the information supplied by your authorities on the measure referred to above, it has decided to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 88 (2) of the EC Treaty. 1. PROCEDURE (2) By letter of 15 June 2004 the Commission was informed by a citizen of the UK of unlawful aid granted by the authorities of the Shetland Islands of the UK. By letters of 24 August 2004, 4 February, 11 May and 16 December 2005 the Commission has requested the UK authorities to provide information about these measures, to which the UK authorities responded by letters of 10 December 2004, 6 April, 8 September 2005 and 31 January 2006. 2. DESCRIPTION (3) The Shetland Islands Council (SIC), the public authority in Shetland, has made payments to the fisheries sector under the scope of two general aid measures named “Aid to the Fish Catching and Processing Industry” and “Aid to the Fish Farming Industry”, which actually consisted of several different types of aid schemes. One of these schemes is the so-called First time shareholders scheme. Under the First time shareholders scheme, which was applied from 1982 until 14 January 2005, grants could be given as contribution to matching own financial contribution for the purchase of a share in an existing or new fishing vessel. Aid was only granted to persons over 18 years old that did not yet own a share in a fishing vessel. (4) Aid was granted for 50 % of the acquisition costs of the share, with a maximum of GBP 7 500 in case of an existing vessel and GBP 15 000 in case of a new vessel. The other 50 % may only be financed by the beneficiaries own contribution, derived either from his own savings or from any interest-free family loan. The amount of aid may never exceed 25 % of the value of the vessel. (5) The aid was granted under the condition that the vessel is used for full time fishing for the next 5 years and that the beneficiary retained his share in the vessel for a period of five years from receipt of the aid. 3. COMMENTS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM (6) The United Kingdom states that the aid measures concerned have already been applied already before the accession of the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community. The United Kingdom is however not able to provide any evidence of the existence of these measures at the time of accession. (7) The United Kingdom confirms that the aid measures have been changed over the years and that these changes have not been notified to the Commission in accordance with Article 88(3) of the EC Treaty (former Article 93(3)). The United Kingdom states however that the expenditure and application of the measures have been reported yearly to the Commission by way of the annual State aid inventory and that the officials responsible for the aids believed that by transmitting the annual reports no notification of the aid would be necessary. (8) Finally the United Kingdom states that where the measures and the amendments to the schemes might have been applied without prior notification to the Commission, they were applied in accordance with the conditions laid down in the Guidelines for the examination of State aid to fisheries and aquaculture applicable at the time aid was granted under the measures. (9) In addition, with regard to the First time shareholder scheme the United Kingdom states that the scheme was in operation until 14 January 2005, but that actually no assistance has been awarded during the financial years 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 as there were no applications. Furthermore, they state that they consider the aid to have been compatible with Guidelines for the examination of State aid to fisheries and aquaculture applicable at the times concerned. 4. ASSESSMENT (10) It must be determined first if the scheme can be regarded as State aid and if this is the case, if this aid is compatible with the common market. (11) Aid has been granted to a limited number of companies within the fisheries sector and is thus of a selective nature. The aids have been granted by the Shetland Islands Council, the public authority of Shetland, from State resources and are in the benefit of these companies which are in direct competition with other companies in the fisheries sector of both within the United Kingdom as well as in other Member States. Therefore, the measures distort or threaten to distort competition and appear to be State aid in the sense of Article 87 of the EC Treaty. 4.1. Legality (12) According to the United Kingdom, the two general schemes have been applied before the accession of the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community. However, the Commission notes that according to the provided information, the First time shareholders scheme was put in place only 1982. In any event, due to the absence of past records, the United Kingdom acknowledged that it is not able to provide evidence that the aid measures existed already before the United Kingdom joined the union and thus would have to be regarded as existing aids. In addition, the United Kingdom confirmed that the aid schemes have been changed over the years and that these changes have not been notified to the Commission in accordance with Article 88(3) of the EC Treaty (former Article 93(3)). As a result, the aid measures have to be considered as new aid. (13) The Commission regrets that the United Kingdom did not respect Article 88(3) of the EC Treaty, under which Member State are obliged to inform the Commission of any plans to grant or alter aid. In this respect the United Kingdom has stated that its authorities were mistakenly convinced that the inclusion of the measures into the annual State aid inventory, yearly submitted to the Commission, would be sufficient to inform the Commission of the aid in question. It must be noted however that such reporting to the Commission can not be considered as notification of the aid as required under Article 88(3) of the EC Treaty. 4.2. Basis for the assessment (14) Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 (3) does not lay down any limitation period for the examination of unlawful aid within the meaning of Article 1(f) thereof, i.e. aid implemented before the Commission is able to reach a conclusion about its compatibility with the common market. However, Article 15 of that Regulation stipulates that the powers of the Commission to recover aid is subject to a limitation period of ten years, that the limitation period begins on the day on which the aid is awarded to the beneficiary and that that limitation period is interrupted by any action taken by the Commission. Consequently, the Commission considers that it is not necessary in this case to examine the aid covered by the limitation period, i.e. aid granted more than ten years before any measure taken by the Commission concerning it. (15) The Commission considers that in this case the limitation period was interrupted by its request for information sent to the United Kingdom on 24 August 2004. Accordingly, the limitation period applies to aid granted to beneficiaries before 24 August 1994. Consequently, the Commission will asses below only the aid granted by decisions taken between 24 August 1994 and January 2005. It seems that during that time approximately GBP 8 000 000 have been granted under the scheme. (16) State aid can be declared compatible with the common market if it complies with one of the exceptions foreseen in the EC Treaty. As regards the State aid to the fisheries sector, State aid measures are deemed to be compatible with the common market if they comply with the conditions of Guidelines for the examination of State aid to fisheries and aquaculture. According to point 5.3 of the current Guidelines (4) an “unlawful aid” within the meaning of Article 1(f) of Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 will be appraised in accordance with the guidelines applicable at the time when the administrative act setting up the aid has entered into force. The aid is thus to be assessed on the compatibility with the Guidelines of 1994, 1997 and 2001 (5). 4.3. Used vessels 4.3.1. Guidelines of 1994, 1997 and 2001 (17) With regard to aid for the acquisition of a share in a second hand vessel, according to point 2.2.3.3 of the 1994, 1997 and 2001 Guidelines, such aid may be deemed compatible with the common market when the vessel can be used for at least another 10 years. Under the 1994, 1997 Guidelines the vessel has to be at least 10 years old, under the 2001 Guidelines 20 years. According to all guidelines the aid should be intended to enable sea-fishermen to acquire part ownership or to replace a vessel after its total loss. (18) With regard to the aid rate, under the 1994 and 1997 Guidelines the total amount of aid to be granted may not exceed 50 % of the participation rate provided for in Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 3699/93, applying the scale relating to construction aid set out in that Annex. As Shetland is an Objective I region, the maximum participation rate is set at 60 %. Thus the aid for sea-fishermen to acquire part ownership of a second hand vessel may not exceed 30 % of the actual costs of the acquisition of the vessel. (19) Under the 2001 Guidelines this provision is amended and it is stated that the rate of the aid may not exceed in subsidy equivalent 20 % of the actual cost of the acquisition of the vessel. 4.3.2. Compatibility (20) Under the scheme aid was granted for individuals who acquired for the first time a share in a second hand vessel. According to the Guidelines aid could only be granted with regard to vessels, not older than 20 years, that could be used for at least another 10 years. The scheme does not contain any conditions with regard to the age of the vessels. The fact that the beneficiaries of the aid are obliged to keep their share in the vessel for at least another five years and to use the vessel for fishing during those years seems to insure that aid is granted for vessels that are still operational and to be used for some years. However, this condition is insufficient to comply with the requirements established in point 2.2.3.3. of the 1994, the 1997 as well as the 2001 Guidelines. (21) In addition, according to the information provided, under the scheme the aid may not exceed 25 % of the value of the vessel. Under to the 1994 and 1997 Guidelines, applicable until 1 July 2001, it is allowed to grant aid with a maximum of 30 % of the actual costs of the acquisition of the vessel and thus the aid rate of the scheme of 25 % is compatible with that condition. (22) However the 2001 Guidelines, which Member States were to apply as from 1 July 2001, require that the aid shall not exceed 20 % of the actual costs of the acquisition of the vessel. The aid rate of the scheme of 25 % therefore no longer complies with the conditions established under the Guidelines. Therefore, from 1 July 2001, the aid rate of the scheme of 25 % exceeds seems no longer compatible. (23) With regard to the above, the Commission at this stage has serious doubts on the compatibility with the common market of the aid granted for the acquisition of a share in used vessels. 4.4. New vessels 4.4.1. Guidelines of 1994 and 1997 (24) With regard to aid for the acquisition of a share in new vessels, point 2.2.3.1 of the 1994 and the 1997 Guidelines apply. According to those guidelines, aid for the construction of new fishing vessels may be deemed compatible with the common market provided that it complies with the relevant conditions of Regulation (EC) No 3699/93 (6). Regulation (EC) No 3699/93 (25) According to the conditions laid down in Articles 7 and 10 and Annex III (paragraph 1.3) of Regulation (EC) No 3699/93, the vessels must be built in compliance with the objectives set for the size of the fishing fleet of the Member State concerned under the mulitannual guidance programme (MAGP) and must comply with the regulations and directives governing hygiene and safety and Community provisions concerning the dimension of vessels. The vessels have to be registered in the fleet register. 4.4.2. Guidelines of 2001 (26) With regard to aid for the acquisition of a share in new vessels, point 2.2.3.1 of the 2001 Guidelines applies. According to those guidelines, aid for the construction of new fishing vessels may be deemed compatible with the common market provided that it complies with the relevant conditions of Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 (7). Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 (27) Articles 6, 7, 9 and 10 and Annex III (point 1.3) of Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 (8), as applicable until 1 January 2003, require that the entry of new capacity is compensated by the withdrawal of a capacity without public aid which is at least equal to the new capacity introduced in the segments concerned. Until 31 December 2001, where the objectives were not yet respected, the withdrawal of capacity should at least be 30 % more than the new capacity introduced. (28) The aid may only be granted where the Member State has submitted the information concerning the application of the Multi-annual Guidance Programme (MAGP) as required under Article 5 of that Regulation and furthermore, has complied with its obligations under Regulation (EEC) No 2930/86 concerning the characteristics of fishing vessels, has implemented the arrangements under Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 and has complied with the overall MAGP-objectives. (29) When the vessel is deleted from the fishing vessel register of the Community, within 10 years from construction, the aid should be recovered pro rata temporis. (30) Finally, the vessels must be built to comply with the regulations and directives governing hygiene and safety and Community provisions concerning the dimension of vessels. The vessels have to be registered in the fleet register and must be entered in the Community fishing fleet register. (31) With regard to the compatibility of aid for the construction of new fishing vessels with the common market, the 2001 Guidelines aid also make reference to the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 as mentioned above. Regulation (EC) No 2369/2002 (32) However, on 1 January 2003 the relevant Articles and Annex of Regulation (EC) No. 2792/1999 were amended by Regulation (EC) No 2369/2002 (9). This amendment introduced the phasing out of aid for construction of new fishing vessels. According to the amended provisions, the conditions have been broadened in the sense that aid for the renewal of fishing vessels may only be granted until 31 December 2004 and for vessels of less than 400 GT. 4.4.3. Compatibility (33) Under the scheme grants can be given for the purchase of a share in a new fishing vessel. Aid can only be granted to persons over 18 years old that do not yet own a share in a fishing vessel. The beneficiary is obliged to use the vessel for fishing for the following 5 years and must retain their share in the vessel for at least the same period. In case of breach of the conditions under the scheme the authorities can require pro rata temporis repayment of the aid. (34) As the scheme seems to make no reference to the reference level for the size of the fishing fleet nor to the hygiene and safety requirement and there is obligation for the registration of the vessel in the fleet register, the Commission at this stage has serious doubts that the conditions for the acquisition of a share in a new vessel during the period starting from 1 July 2001 can be considered compatible with the Guidelines for the examination of State aid to fisheries and aquaculture. (35) Furthermore the scheme does not seem to contain any provisions with regard to the additional requirements introduced by Regulation (EC) No 2369/2002 (point 32), applicable as from 1 January 2003. Although the United Kingdom has stated that no aid has been granted under the scheme during the financial years 2003/2004 and 2004/2005, aid has been granted during the financial year 2002/2003 which could include aid granted after 1 January 2003. Therefore at this stage the Commission also has doubts whether the additional conditions established by Regulation (EC) No. 2369/2002 have been complied with. (36) With regard to the above, the Commission at this stage has serious doubts on the compatibility with the common market of the aid granted for the acquisition of a share in new vessels after 1 July 2001. Aid granted before that date however is deemed to be compatible with the guidelines in force at the time the aid was granted and thus compatible with the common market. 5. DECISION (37) In view of the foregoing analysis the Commission has decided not to raise any objections to this aid scheme as far as it concerns the aid granted for the acquisition of a share in a new vessel granted before 1 July 2001. (38) With regard to the aid granted under the scheme for the acquisition of a share in a new vessel after 1 July 2001 and all aid granted for the acquisition of a share in second hand vessels, the Commission observes that there exist, at this stage of the preliminary examination, as provided for by Article 6 of Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 of 22 March 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 88 of the EC Treaty, serious doubts on the compatibility of these aids with the Guidelines for the examination of State aid to Fisheries and aquaculture and, therefore, with the EC Treaty. (39) In the light of the foregoing conditions, the Commission, acting under the procedure laid down in Article 88 (2) of the EC Treaty and Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 659/1999, requests the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to submit its comments and to provide all such information as may help to further assess the aid, within one month of the date of receipt of this letter. It requests your authorities to forward a copy of this letter to the recipients of the aid immediately. (40) The Commission wishes to remind the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland that Article 88 (3) of the EC Treaty has suspensory effect and would draw your attention to Article 14 of Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999, which provides that all unlawful aid may be recovered from the recipient. (41) The Commission warns the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland that it will inform interested parties by publishing this letter and a meaningful summary of it in the Official Journal of the European Union. It will also inform interested parties in the EFTA countries which are signatories to the EEA Agreement, by publication of a notice in the EEA Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Union and will inform the EFTA Surveillance Authority by sending a copy of this letter. All such interested parties will be invited to submit their comments within one month of the date of such publication.”

(1) Verordening (EG) nr. 659/1999 van de Raad van 22 maart 1999 tot vaststelling van nadere bepalingen voor de toepassing van artikel 93 van het EG-Verdrag, PB L 83 van 27.3.1999, blz. 1. Verordening laatstelijk gewijzigd bij de Toetredingsakte van 2003.

(2) PB C 260 van 17.9.1994, blz. 3; PB C 100 van 27.3.1997, blz. 12 en PB C 19 van 20.1.2001, blz. 7; PB C 229 van 14.9.2004, blz. 5.

(3) Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 of 22 March 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 of the EC Treaty, OJ L 83, 27.3.1999, p. 1. Regulation as amended by the Act of Accession of 2003.

(4) OJ C 229, 14.9.2004, p. 5.

(5) OJ C 260, 17.9.1994, p. 3; OJ C 100, 27.3.1997, p. 12 and OJ C 19, 20.1.2001, p. 7.

(6) Council Regulation (EC) 3699/93 of 21 December 1993 laying down the criteria and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries and aquaculture sector and the processing and the marketing of its products, OJ L 346, 31.12.1993, p. 1.

(7) Council Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 of 17 December 1999 laying down the detailed rules and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector OJ L 337, 30.12.1999, p.10, as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 485/2005, OJ L 81, 30.3.2005, p. 1.

(8) Council Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 of 17 December 1999 laying down the detailed rules and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector OJ L 337, 30.12.1999, p.10, as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 485/2005, OJ L 81, 30.3.2005, p. 1.

(9) OJ L 358, 31.12.2002, p. 49.