[pic] | COMISSÃO DAS COMUNIDADES EUROPEIAS |

Bruxelas, 20.7.2005

COM(2005) 328 final

2005/0136(CNS)

Proposta de

DECISÃO DO CONSELHO

que altera a Decisão 2004/465/CE relativa a uma contribuição financeira da Comunidade para os programas de controlo da pesca dos Estados-Membros

.

(apresentada pela Comissão)

EXPOSIÇÃO DE MOTIVOS

A Comunidade presta aos Estados-Membros assistência financeira para o controlo da pesca desde 1991. Essa política baseia-se no facto de tal controlo implicar custos elevados, especialmente no que se refere à inspecção no mar por navios e aeronaves de patrulha e ao investimento em redes de tecnologias da informação.

Com esse objectivo, foram adoptadas quatro decisões do Conselho que prevêem apoio comunitário para as despesas dos Estados-Membros na inspecção das pescas, a saber, a decisão 89/631/CEE para o período de 1991 a 1995, a decisão 95/527/CEE para o período de 1996 a 2000, a decisão 2001/431/CE para o período de 2001 a 2003 e a decisão 2004/465/CE para o período de 2004 a 2005. A análise dos resultados deste regime mostra claramente que a assistência financeira comunitária aos Estados-Membros teve um impacto muito positivo nos seus sistemas de inspecção.

A Decisão 2004/465/CE caduca em 31 de Dezembro de 2005 e o novo quadro financeiro para as pescas (que abrange o período de 2007 a 2013) não entrará em vigor antes de 2007. Por conseguinte, o actual regime financeiro adoptado pela Decisão 2004/465/CE deve ser prorrogado por um ano, para que o apoio comunitário às despesas planificadas pelos Estados-Membros para o controlo da pesca continue a estar disponível até à entrada em vigor do novo regime financeiro e a fim de incentivar os investimentos dos Estados-Membros neste domínio, tendo simultaneamente em conta as necessidades da Agência Comunitária de Controlo das Pescas.

A decisão proposta consiste, em substância, na renovação por um ano da Decisão 2004/465/CE. As prioridades e as acções adequadas para o apoio financeiro comunitário mantêm-se inalteradas; os períodos para a comunicação pelos Estados-Membros dos progressos alcançados foram alterados em conformidade. Contudo, dada a necessidade de incrementar a assistência técnica aos serviços da Comissão, foram acrescentadas duas novas acções que podem beneficiar de apoio financeiro comunitário.

Será dada especial atenção às necessidades dos Estados-Membros que aderiram à União Europeia em 2004.

O montante previsto para 2006 é de 35 milhões de euros.

Assim, a Comissão propõe ao Conselho que adopte a proposta apresentada em anexo.

2005/0136(CNS)

Proposta de

DECISÃO DO CONSELHO

que altera a Decisão 2004/465/CE relativa a uma contribuição financeira da Comunidade para os programas de controlo da pesca dos Estados-Membros

O CONSELHO DA UNIÃO EUROPEIA,

Tendo em conta o Tratado que institui a Comunidade Europeia, nomeadamente o artigo 37º,

Tendo em conta a proposta da Comissão[1],

Tendo em conta o parecer do Parlamento Europeu[2],

Considerando o seguinte:

(1) A política comum da pesca (PCP) define as regras gerais em matéria de conservação, gestão, exploração responsável, transformação e comercialização dos recursos aquáticos vivos.

(2) O Regulamento (CE) nº 2371/2002, de 20 de Dezembro de 2002, relativo à conservação e à exploração sustentável dos recursos haliêuticos no âmbito da Política Comum das Pescas[3], sublinhou a necessidade de reforçar a cooperação e coordenação entre os Estados-Membros e com a Comissão, a fim de reforçar o controlo e evitar comportamentos contrários às regras da PCP.

(3) O período abrangido pela Decisão 2004/465/CE[4] do Conselho relativa a uma contribuição financeira da Comunidade para os programas de controlo da pesca dos Estados-Membros termina em 31 de Dezembro de 2005.

(4) Devido a dificuldades internas de natureza orçamental e administrativa, os Estados-Membros que aderiram à Comunidade em 1 de Maio de 2004 obtiveram uma assistência financeira comunitária muito limitada no âmbito do actual regime financeiro previsto pela Decisão 2004/465/CE.

(5) A nova Perspectiva Financeira abrangerá o período de 2007 a 2013. Para evitar uma interrupção do apoio financeiro comunitário, é, por conseguinte, necessário que a assistência financeira disponível para os Estados-Membros no âmbito da Decisão 2004/465/CE se mantenha em 2006.

(6) É conveniente incluir na Decisão 2004/465/CE estudos sobre o controlo das pescas, bem como acordos destinados a facilitar a aplicação de novas tecnologias de controlo,

ADOPTOU A PRESENTE DECISÃO:

Artigo 1º

A Decisão 2004/465/CE é alterada do seguinte modo:

1) O nº 2 do artigo 3º passa a ter a seguinte redacção:

“2. Todos os Estados-Membros devem apresentar os seus programas anuais de controlo da pesca até 1 de Junho de 2004 para o ano de 2004 e até 31 de Janeiro de 2005 para o ano de 2006.”

2) Ao nº 1 do artigo 4º são aditadas as seguintes alíneas:

“i) Acordos administrativos com o Centro Comum de Investigação destinados a aplicar novas tecnologias no domínio do controlo;

j) Estudos sobre aspectos relacionados com o controlo efectuados por iniciativa da Comissão."

3) No nº 1 do artigo 5º, a primeira frase passa a ter a seguinte redacção: “O montante de referência financeira para a execução das acções para as quais está prevista assistência financeira no período de 2004 a 2006 é de 105 milhões de euros”.

4) Ao nº 2 do artigo 6º é aditada a seguinte alínea:

“d) Em relação às acções referidas nas alíneas i) e j) do nº 1 do artigo 4º, a taxa da contribuição pode ser de 100% das despesas elegíveis”.

5) No nº 2 do artigo 12º, a data de “31 de Dezembro de 2008” é substituída pela data de “31 de Dezembro de 2010”.

6) Na alínea b) do artigo 16º, a data de “31 de Dezembro de 2006” é substituída pela data de “31 de Dezembro de 2007”.

7) A alínea b), subalínea v), do artigo 16º passa a ter a seguinte redacção:

“v) impacto da contribuição financeira nos programas de controlo da pesca em relação a todo o período de 2001 a 2006.”

8) No artigo 17º, a data de “30 de Junho de 2007” é substituída pela data de “30 de Junhode 2008”.

Artigo 2º

A presente decisão é aplicável a partir de 1 de Janeiro de 2006.

Artigo 3º

Os Estados-Membros são os destinatários da presente decisão.

Feito em Bruxelas, em

Pelo Conselho

O Presidente

LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

1. NAME OF THE PROPOSAL:

Community financial contribution towards Member States fisheries control programmes

2. ABM / ABB FRAMEWORK

Policy Area(s) concerned and associated Activity/Activities:Line 1107: Fisheries conservation, control.

3. BUDGET LINES

3.1. Budget lines (operational lines and related technical and administrative assistance lines (ex- B.A lines)) including headings:

11.07.02. Financial contribution to the Member States for expenditure in the field of control

3.2. Duration of the action and of the financial impact:

2006

3.3. Budgetary characteristics ( add rows if necessary ):

Budget line | Type of expenditure | New | EFTA contribution | Contributions from applicant countries | Heading in financial perspective |

110702 | Non-comp | Diff[5]/ | NO | NO | NO | No 3 |

4. SUMMARY OF RESOURCES

4.1. Financial Resources

4.1.1. Summary of commitment appropriations (CA) and payment appropriations (PA)

EUR million (to 3 decimal places)

Expenditure type | Section no. | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | n + 4 | n + 5 and later | Total |

Operational expenditure[6] |

Commitment Appropriations (CA) | 8.1 | a | 35,000 | 35,000 |

Payment Appropriations (PA) | b | 3,000 | 7,000 | 14,000 | 11,000 | 35,000 |

Administrative expenditure within reference amount[7] |

Technical & administrative assistance (NDA) | 8.2.4 | c |

TOTAL REFERENCE AMOUNT |

Commitment Appropriations | a+c | 35,000 | 35,000 |

Payment Appropriations | b+c | 3,000 | 7,000 | 14,000 | 11,000 | 35,000 |

Administrative expenditure not included in reference amount[8] |

Human resources and associated expenditure (NDA) | 8.2.5 | d | 0,378 | 0,378 | 0,378 | 0,378 |

Administrative costs, other than human resources and associated costs, not included in reference amount (NDA) | 8.2.6 | e | 0,055 | 0,12 | 0,020 | 0,020 |

Total indicative financial cost of intervention

TOTAL CA including cost of Human Resources | a+c+d+e | 35,433 | 0,498 | 0,398 | 0,398 | 36,727 |

TOTAL PA including cost of Human Resources | b+c+d+e | 3,433 | 7,498 | 14,398 | 11,398 | 36,727 |

Co-financing details

If the proposal involves co-financing by Member States, or other bodies (please specify which), an estimate of the level of this co-financing should be indicated in the table below (additional lines may be added if different bodies are foreseen for the provision of the co-financing):

EUR million (to 3 decimal places)

Co-financing body | Year n | n + 1 | n + 2 | n + 3 | n + 4 | n + 5 and later | Total |

…………………… | f |

TOTAL CA including co-financing | a+c+d+e+f |

4.1.2. Compatibility with Financial Programming

(x Proposal is compatible with existing financial programming.

( Proposal will entail reprogramming of the relevant heading in the financial perspective.

( Proposal may require application of the provisions of the Inter-institutional Agreement[9] (i.e. flexibility instrument or revision of the financial perspective).

4.1.3. Financial impact on Revenue

(x Proposal has no financial implications on revenue

( Proposal has financial impact – the effect on revenue is as follows:

NB: All details and observations relating to the method of calculating the effect on revenue should be shown in a separate annex.

EUR million (to one decimal place)

Prior to action [Year n-1] | Situation following action |

Total number of human resources | 3 + ½ | 3+ 1/2 | 3 + 1/2 | 3 + ½ |

5. CHARACTERISTICS AND OBJECTIVES

Details of the context of the proposal are required in the Explanatory Memorandum. This section of the Legislative Financial Statement should include the following specific complementary information:

5.1. Needs to be met in the short or long term

The objective of the Common Fisheries policy is to provide for sustainable exploitation of living aquatic resources and of aquaculture in the context of sustainable development. In order to ensure the effective implementation of the CFP (control, inspection and enforcement of the rules of the CFP falls within the responsibility of Member States), the Community control and enforcement system for fisheries should be reinforced and co-operation and co-ordination between all relevant authorities should be strengthened.

This goal is being achieved through a number of actions performed by Member States which have been financed by the Community since 1990, and consequently in line with the objectives established under Council Regulation n° 2371/2002 on the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources under the CFP[11]. The financial assistance granted to Member States by the Community has been done on the basis of national programmes on expenditure for fisheries control purposes.

5.2. Value-added of Community involvement and coherence of the proposal with other financial instruments and possible synergy

Regulation n°2371/2002[12] establishes the obligations of Member States on fisheries control activities. However, without constant pressure and monitoring by the Commission, Member States will not fulfil their duties in accordance with the standards required by Community law. Furthermore, improvements towards an efficient control system throughout the Community will be difficult to achieve without incentives, in particular when new technologies shall be tested and introduced where appropriate.

5.3. Objectives, expected results and related indicators of the proposal in the context of the ABM framework

Objectives: The situation as regards control means of Member States seems to be very much the same as in the beginning of 2004. Under-capacities in fishing control are especially significant for new Member States. It is thus necessary that Community financial assistance continues to be available to Member States in 2006 in the form and conditions established under Decision 2004/465[13].

Results: Financing rates and conditions established under Decision 2004/465/EC remain unchanged, and are made applicable under the proposed Decision for one further year until 31.12.2006.

In particular, reimbursement on aircraft and vessel expenditure will continue to be applied under the proposed Decision with priority to the new Member States.

Indicators: The Commission will continue to focus on the assessment tools that can be considered the best indicators to assess the effectiveness of the policy (i.e. number of infringements detected over a period, the rate of procedures ended compared with the procedures opened, the number of inspections at sea or at ports, or the number of sightings recorded by the aerial surveillance). The information provided by IT systems able to collect data from landing points, thus controlling the level of catch uptake (in regard to available quotas and the status of stocks), are also important assessment elements.

5.4. Method of Implementation (indicative)

Show below the method(s)[14] chosen for the implementation of the action.

( x Centralised Management

(x Directly by the Commission

( Indirectly by delegation to:

( Executive Agencies

( Bodies set up by the Communities as referred to in art. 185 of the Financial Regulation

( National public-sector bodies/bodies with public-service mission

( Shared or decentralised management

( With Member states

( With Third countries

( Joint management with international organisations (please specify)

Relevant comments:

6. MONITORING AND EVALUATION

6.1. Monitoring system

The proposed Decision carries over for 2006 the principles and rules established in Decision 2004/465/EC on this issue. Expenditure must have been incurred in compliance both with the general condition specified in Decision 2004/465/EC and the specific conditions provided for by the future Commission decision fixing the amount granted.

On its side, the Commission may require Member States to carry out on-the-spot checks on projects or may decide to carry them out with its own officials.

The Commission maintains as well all existing checks and balances in regard to fraud: in particular, in the event any amount has been unduly paid, it shall be repaid to the Commission, with interest. It is worth noting that the Commission only reimburses invoices that the national administrations have paid.

Member States shall report yearly to the Commission how their programmes are implemented, any variation they had to introduce on their programmes and shall assess the impact of the expenditure on control, inspection and surveillance activities. The proposed Decision provides for a final assessment on the 2001-2006 programmes to be forwarded to the Commission in 2007.

The proposed Decision foresees that the report by the Commission on the outcome of the scheme will be sent to the European Parliament and the Council in 2008. In this report indicators mentioned above will be used to gauge the impact of this scheme.

6.2. Evaluation

6.2.1. Ex-ante evaluation

Through the financial scheme provided for by Decisions 89/631[15], 95/527[16], 2001/431[17] and 2004/465[18], Member States have with no doubt reinforced their control structures and their inspectors’ skills. This has been largely assessed in several documents, such as Commission’s Reports on the monitoring of the implementation of the CFP Rules by the Member States. Extensive details on the effects of such actions have also been given in the Legislative Financial Statement of Council Decision 2004/465/EC, in the Report of the Commission to the Council and European Parliament on Decision 89/631[19], the Report of May 2000 on Decision 95/527[20] and the Commission Communication on the compliance with the rules of the CFP of June 2003, which set up a Compliance scoreboard and was made available to the general public through the Commission's web-site[21].

If an overall conclusion is to be drawn from these documents, is that without further investments in equipment and training, the control systems of Member States will not be able to correspond to the standards required by Community law.

In addition, attention must be drawn to the fact that ten new Member States joined the Community on 1st May 2004, and that during 2004 some of these Member States faced internal budgetary problems which have made them have to delay certain expenditure on fisheries control for one or two years. Hence, in order to facilitate and speed up the attainment of Community standards in the fisheries control field, financial aid will continue to be necessary in the interim period between the expiry of Decision 2004/465 (i.e. 31.12.2005) and the date when the future Fisheries Control Agency becomes fully operational.

6.2.2. Measures taken following an intermediate/ex-post evaluation (lessons learned from similar experiences in the past)

Though assessment is very much dependant on specific monitoring, control and surveillance strategies adopted by each Member States (which are in turn a consequence of the different features of the fleet, the size of fishing grounds, quantity and value of catches landed), it appears that there is still room for improvement on the main issues of control i.e. patrol vessels and aircraft and technology systems and their network, the fitting on board of Vessel Monitoring Systems on board vessels, and training, the enhancement of pilot projects and cost/benefit analysis of expenditure in the control activity (in the case of all Member States).

Moreover, it is proposed to finance two new actions: the first will be aimed at setting up administrative arrangements with the Community Joint Research Centre (JRC), so that this body may provide technical assistance in the development of control techniques. The second will allow the Commission’s services to carry out studies on matters related to control issues.

6.2.3. Terms and frequency of future evaluation

The proposed Council Decision only affects the reports foreseen in Decision 2004/465/EC (articles 16 and 17) in their timing. All other elements of reporting already foreseen remain unchanged.

The final report to be drawn up by the Member States before 31.12.2007 will allow a thorough ex post evaluation of the scheme which will be presented the following year by the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council.

In the matter of control, it is not easy to quantify the results, especially in the short term. The overall goal of this initiative is to enhance a control culture among the stakeholders in the fisheries sector which will allow an unreserved compliance with the CFP rules. Without effective control, conservation rules are useless; without adherence to rules, control activities will never be successful.

7. ANTI-FRAUD MEASURES

The Member States shall verify and certify that expenditure for which a reimbursement is claimed has been incurred in compliance with the rules laid down by the Decision. If the Commission considers that the claim does not comply with the conditions laid down, it shall refuse to reimburse all or part of the expenditure at issue.

The Members States shall provide the Commission with any information it may request and they must keep supporting documents available to the Commission for at least 5 years from the date of reimbursement.

Commission officials may carry out or take part on ex-post control.

In the event of irregularity, any amount unduly paid shall be repaid to the Commission, together with interest.

8. DETAILS OF RESOURCES

8.1. Objectives of the proposal in terms of their financial cost

Commitment appropriations in EUR million (to 3 decimal places)

8.2.2. Description of tasks deriving from the action

- - In view of the principle of sound financial management, assure the respect of the Financial Regulation rules when implementing the concerned Community legislation.

- - Assure a good execution of available credits, in conformity with applicable rules and procedures.

8.2.3. Sources of human resources (statutory)

(When more than one source is stated, please indicate the number of posts originating from each of the sources)

(x Posts currently allocated to the management of the programme to be replaced or extended

( Posts pre-allocated within the APS/PDB exercise for year n

( Posts to be requested in the next APS/PDB procedure

( Posts to be redeployed using existing resources within the managing service (internal redeployment)

( Posts required for year n although not foreseen in the APS/PDB exercise of the year in question

8.2.4. Other Administrative expenditure included in reference amount (XX 01 04/05 – Expenditure on administrative management)

EUR million (to 3 decimal places)

Budget line (number and heading) | Year n | Year n+1 | Year n+2 | Year n+3 | Year n+4 | Year n+5 and later | TOTAL |

Other technical and administrative assistance |

- intra muros |

- extra muros |

Total Technical and administrative assistance |

8.2.5. Financial cost of human resources and associated costs not included in the reference amount

EUR million (to 3 decimal places)

Type of human resources | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | Year n+4 | Year n+5 and later |

Officials and temporary staff (XX 01 01) | 0, 378 | 0, 378 | 0, 378 | 0, 378 |

Staff financed by Art XX 01 02 (auxiliary, END, contract staff, etc.) (specify budget line) |

Total cost of Human Resources and associated costs (NOT in reference amount) | 0, 378 | 0, 378 | 0,378 | 0, 378 |

Calculation– Officials and Temporary agents

Reference should be made to Point 8.2.1, if applicable

3 x €108 000 = € 324 000

½ x €108 000 = €54 000

Calculation– Staff financed under art. XX 01 02

Reference should be made to Point 8.2.1, if applicable

8.2.6 Other administrative expenditure not included in reference amount EUR million (to 3 decimal places) |

XX 01 02 11 02 – Meetings & Conferences |

XX 01 02 11 03 – Committees[27] | 0,035 | 0,035 |

XX 01 02 11 04 – Studies & consultations | 0,10 | 0,10 |

XX 01 02 11 05 – Information systems |

2 Total Other Management Expenditure (XX 01 02 11) |

3 Other expenditure of an administrative nature (specify including reference to budget line) |

Total Administrative expenditure, other than human resources and associated costs (NOT included in reference amount) | 0,055 | 0,12 | 0,020 | 0,020 | 0,215 |

Calculation - Other administrative expenditure not included in reference amount

[1] JO C […] de […], p. […].

[2] JO C […] de […], p. […].

[3] JO L 358 de 31.12.2002, p. 59.

[4] JO L 157de 30.4.2004, p. 114, rectificado por JO L 195 de 2.6.2004, p. 36.

[5] Differentiated appropriations

[6] Expenditure that does not fall under Chapter xx 01 of the Title xx concerned.

[7] Expenditure within article xx 01 04 of Title xx.

[8] Expenditure within chapter xx 01 other than articles xx 01 04 or xx 01 05.

[9] See points 19 and 24 of the Interinstitutional agreement.

[10] Additional columns should be added if necessary i.e. if the duration of the action exceeds 6 years

[11] JO L 358, 31.12.2002.

[12] See Art.23 (2) of R.n°2371/2002.

[13] A detailed exposé on this issue is to be found in point 5 (“Description and Grounds” of the Legislative Financial Statement of Decision 2004/465/EC.

[14] If more than one method is indicated please provide additional details in the "Relevant comments" section of this point

[15] JO L 364, 14.12.1989.

[16] JO L 301, 14.12.1995.

[17] JO L 154, 9.6.2001.

[18] JO L 157, 30.4.2004, as amended by JO L 195, 2.6.2004.

[19] COM(1995) 268.

[20] See Legislative Financial Statement to Decision 2004/465/EC, point 5.

[21] COM(2003) 344.

[22] As described under Section 5.3

[23] Cost of which is NOT covered by the reference amount

[24] Cost of which is NOT covered by the reference amount

[25] Cost of which is included within the reference amount

[26] Reference should be made to the specific legislative financial statement for the Executive Agency(ies) concerned.

[27] Specify the type of committee and the group to which it belongs.