Proposal for a Council Decision on a Community financial contribution towards certain expenditure to implement certain management measures on highly migratory fish(COM(2000) 651 final — 2000/0268(CNS)) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2001-02-27
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: authorised catch, conservation of fish stocks, fishery management, fishery resources, sea fish

C 62 E/164

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

27.2.2001

Proposal for a Council Decision on a Community financial contribution towards certain expen-
diture to implement certain management measures on highly migratory fish

(2001/C 62 E/12)

(Text with EEA relevance)

COM(2000) 651 final (cid:16) 2000/0268(CNS)

(Submitted by the Commission on 18 October 2000)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community, and in particular Article 37 thereof,

in assigning observers

contribution from the Community towards the expenditure
incurred
the period
1 November 2000 to 31 January 2001. The contribution
would be conditional on the costs being taken over by the
Member States once the system has become routine,

during

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,

Whereas:

(1) The European Community has been a Contracting Party to
the International Convention for
the conservation of
Atlantic Tunas, hereinafter called .the ICCAT Convention/
since 14 November 1997.

(2) The ICCAT Convention represents a framework for regional
cooperation on the conservation and management of tunas
and tuna-like species in the Atlantic Ocean and adjoining
seas through the setting up of an International Commission
for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, hereinafter called
.ICCAT/, and the adoption of recommendations on conser-
vation and management in the convention area which will
become binding on the Contracting Parties.

(3) At its 11th special meeting on 16 to 23 November 1998,
ICCAT adopted a recommendation on the imposition of a
fish aggregating
time/area closure linked to the use of
devices which became mandatory for
the Contracting
Parties on 21 June 1999. Whereas Council Regulation
(. . .)
incorporates this recommendation into Community
law.

(4) In order to ensure compliance with the measure, provision
is made for an observer to remain on board each vessel
during the period concerned. Detailed arrangements should
be
assignment of
observers, their tasks and the payment of the costs they
incur.

adopted therefore

governing

the

Article 1

1.
The costs arising from the assignment of observers
deployed under the provisions of Article . . . of Regulation
. . . shall be borne by the Member State which makes the
appointment.

2. Member States may pass on these costs, in whole or in
part, to the owners of the tuna seiners flying their flag or
registered in their territory.

Article 2

In order to facilitate the introduction of the system of
1.
observers, the Community may contribute to the financing of
the Member States arising from the
the expenditure of
assignment of
the period 1 November
2000 to 31 January 2001.

the observers,

for

2.
The Community contribution shall be 50 % of the expen-
diture from public funds incurred by each Member State in
making the assignment.

3. Member States wishing to qualify for
contribution shall submit
2001 a detailed report on:

financial
to the Commission by 1 April

a

@ the number of observers assigned;

@ the number of vessels concerned;

(5) Member States should ensure that vessels flying their flag
and operating in the ICCAT area comply with the conser-
vation and management measures applicable in the area. It
is necessary for the Member States to see to it therefore
that the system of observers is applied.

(6) The Member States must take steps to ensure that observers
are placed on board vessels flying their flags and are reim-
bursed the costs arising from their assignment.

(7) In order to facilitate the application of

the system of
observers, provision should be made for a financial

@ the name of the vessel observed and the period for which

each observer was assigned;

@ the final report of each observer.

a

4. Member States wishing to qualify for
financial
contribution from the Community must submit an application
for reimbursement of the expenditure referred to in paragraph
2 together with two copies of supporting documents by 1 May
2001 at the latest. The supporting documents shall include at
least the main points of the agreement between the Member
State and the service provider(s), and evidence of the payments
concerned.

27.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 62 E/165

Member States shall provide assurances that the expenditure
has been incurred in compliance with the principles of
sound financial management and with the requirements of
this Decision.

Article 3

Member States shall send the Commission by 1 May 2001 at
the latest a comprehensive report assessing the content and
conclusions of
the observers assigned to
vessels flying their flag.

the reports of

Article 4

5. Member States shall provide the Commission with the
information necessary to enable it to verify compliance with
the requirements of this Decision, in particular regarding the
assignment of observers in respect of whom the Community
has made a financial contribution.

This Decision shall enter into force on the first day following
its publication in the Official
the European
Communities.

Journal

of

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.