2005/629/EC: Commission Decision of 26 August 2005 establishing a Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries
Date: 2005-08-26
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: common fisheries policy, conservation of fish stocks, fishery resources, scientific committee (EU), technical committee (EU)

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Official Journal of the European Union

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II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 26 August 2005

establishing a Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries

(2005/629/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty
Community,

establishing the European

Having regard to the Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 of
20 December 2002 on the conservation and sustainable exploi-
tation of
the common fisheries
policy (1), and in particular Article 33(1) thereof,

resources under

fisheries

Whereas:

The implementation of Community policy for fisheries
and aquaculture requires the assistance of highly qualified
scientific personnel, particularly in the application of
technology,
marine
fisheries
in
or
connection with the requirements of research and data
collection in the fields of fishing and aquaculture.

and
economics

fishing
disciplines,

biology,
similar

fisheries

or

(4)

(5)

(6)

The advice of the STECF on matters relating to fisheries
must be based on the principles of excellence,
inde-
pendence, impartiality and transparency.

It is essential that the STECF makes best use of external
expertise from within and outside the Community as
necessary to answer specific questions.

Commission Decision

In view of the number and importance of the changes to
be made,
of
19 November 1993 relating to the institution of a
Scientific, Technical
for
Fisheries (2) should be repealed,

and Economic Committee

93/619/EC

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Establishment of the Committee

This assistance should be provided by a permanent
Scientific, Technical
for
Fisheries (STECF) set up within the Commission.

and Economic Committee

A Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries,
hereinafter called ‘STECF’, is hereby established.

the Commission should consult

In accordance with Article 33 of Regulation (EC)
No 2371/2002,
the
STECF at regular intervals on matters pertaining to the
conservation
aquatic
resources, including biological, economic, environmental,
social and technical considerations and it should take
into account its advice when presenting proposals on
fisheries management under that Regulation.

and management

living

of

Article 2

Role of STECF

1.
The Commission shall at regular intervals, or whenever it
is deemed necessary, request advice in the form of opinions
from the STECF on issues referred to in Article 33(1) of Regu-
lation (EC) No 2371/2002. The Commission may require the
adoption of such an opinion within a defined period.

(1)

(2)

(3)

(1) OJ L 358, 31.12.2002, p. 59.

(2) OJ L 297, 2.12.1993, p. 25.

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The STECF may on its own initiative provide opinions to
2.
the Commission on issues referred to in Article 33(1) of Regu-
lation (EC) No 2371/2002.

The reserve list shall be published in the Official Journal of
5.
the European Union and shall also be made available on the
Commission's website.

3.

The STECF shall draw up an annual report on:

(a) the situation as regards fishery resources relevant to the

European Community;

(b) the economic implications of the situation of those fishery

resources;

(c)

the developments in fishing activities, with reference to
biological, ecological, technical and economic factors;

Article 5

Election of the Chair and Vice-Chairs

The STECF shall elect a chairperson and two vice-chairpersons
among its members for a period of three years. The chairperson
and the vice-chairpersons of the STECF may not be elected for
the same position for more than two consecutive periods.

Article 6

Terms of office

(d) other economic factors affecting fisheries.

The term of office of a member of the STECF shall be

1.
three years, renewable for further periods of three years.

Article 3

Structure

The STECF shall consist of not less than 30 members and

1.
not more than 35 members.

2.
The members of the STECF shall be scientific experts in
the fields of marine biology, marine ecology, fisheries science,
nature conservation, population dynamics, statistics, fishing gear
technology, aquaculture, and the economics of
fisheries and
aquaculture.

Article 4

Appointment of the STECF members and constitution of a
reserve list

The Commission shall appoint the members of the STECF
1.
from a list of suitable candidates. This list shall be established
following the publication of an open call for expressions of
interest in the Official Journal of the European Union and on the
Commission’s website.

2.
The members of the STECF shall be appointed on the
basis of their expertise and consistent with a geographical distri-
scientific issues and
the diversity of
reflects
bution that
approaches within the Community.

3.
A list of members of the STECF shall be published in the
Official Journal of the European Union and, together with a brief
curriculum vitae of each member, shall be made available on
the Commission's website.

4.
Candidates who are found to be suitable to serve in the
STECF but not appointed shall be included on a reserve list. The
reserve list may be used by the Commission to find suitable
candidates
leave the STECF in
accordance with Article 6(3).

to replace members

that

Following the expiry of a three-year period, the chair-
the STECF shall
their replacement or the renewal of

2.
person, vice-chairpersons and members of
remain in office until
their term of office.

3.
If a member does not participate actively in the work of
the STECF, shows a conflict of interest or wishes to resign, the
Commission may terminate the membership of that member.

Article 7

External experts

The STECF may, with the approval of the Commission, invite
experts who are not members of the STECF and who have the
relevant scientific knowledge and expertise to contribute to its
work.

Article 8

Working Groups

The STECF, with the approval of the Commission, may create
specific working groups to carry out clearly defined tasks. The
working groups shall consist of external experts and at least two
STECF members. They shall report to the STECF within a given
time frame.

Article 9

Reimbursements and allowances

1. Members of the STECF and the external experts shall be
entitled to an allowance for their participation in meetings of
the STECF and working groups as well as for serving as
Rapporteur on a specific question, as provided for in the Annex.

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Travel and subsistence costs for STECF members and for

2.
external experts shall be paid by the Commission.

(g) the

format

and content of

scientific opinions

and

procedures for ensuring and improving their consistency;

Article 10

Relation between the STECF and the Commission

1. Meetings of the STECF and its working groups shall be
approved and convened by the Commission.

The Commission may participate in meetings of

2.
STECF and of its working groups.

the

3.
The Commission may invite experts who are not members
of STECF to participate in STECF meetings and its working
groups.

Article 11

Rules of procedure

1.
The STECF shall, with the approval of the Commission,
adopt its rules of procedure. The rules of procedure shall ensure
that the STECF performs its tasks in compliance with the prin-
independence and transparency, whilst at
ciples of excellence,
the same time having due regard to legitimate requests for tax
secrecy and commercial confidentiality.

The rules of procedure shall

2.
following:

in particular cover

the

(a)

the election of the Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons of
the STECF;

(b) procedures for:

(i) handling requests for advice,

(h) the responsibilities and obligations of STECF members and
external experts in relation to their external contacts;

(i)

the representation of the STECF in the Advisory Committee
on Fisheries and Aquaculture (ACFA);

(j)

the participation of STECF members
Advisory Committees (RACs).

in the Regional

The rules of procedure shall be published on the Commis-

3.
sion's website.

Article 12

Decisions and opinions

1.
The STECF shall act by a majority of its members present
at the meeting. Decisions and opinions can be adopted only if
70 % of STECF members have cast their votes or abstained.

Reasoned minority opinions shall be included in the
attributed to the

the STECF and shall be

2.
opinions of
members concerned.

Opinions of the STECF shall be published on the Commis-
3.
sion's website without delay subject to the need for commercial
confidentiality.

Article 13

Independence

(ii) adopting opinions under normal conditions and, if the
urgency of the matter requires, under an accelerated,
written procedure by correspondence;

The members of the STECF shall be appointed and the
1.
external experts shall be invited in their personal capacity. They
may not delegate their responsibilities.

(c)

the establishment and organisation of working groups, the
appointment of chair-persons of working groups and the
description of their tasks;

(d) the minutes of meetings,

including details of opinions

diverging from the adopted ones;

2. Members of the STECF and external experts shall act inde-
pendently of Member States or stakeholders. They shall make a
declaration of commitment to act in the public interest and a
declaration of interests indicating either the absence or existence
of any interest which might be considered prejudicial to their
independence. These declarations shall be made in writing and
be publicly available. Members of the STECF shall make annual
declarations of commitment.

(e)

the role of external experts;

(f)

the appointment of rapporteurs and the description of their
tasks;

3. Members of the STECF and external experts shall declare
at each meeting of the STECF and of working groups any
specific interest which might be considered prejudicial to their
independence in relation to specific items on the agenda.

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Article 14

Confidentiality

1. Members of
divulge any information acquired as a result of
either of
the STECF or of
divulging the opinions of the STECF.

the STECF and external experts shall not
the work
the working groups other than

If STECF is informed by the Commission that the opinion
2.
requested is of a confidential nature, only members of
the
STECF and Commission representative shall be present at that
working group.

Article 15

Secretariat of the STECF

The Commission shall provide the secretariat

1.
STECF and its working groups.

for the

2.
The secretariat shall be responsible for providing technical
and administrative support and coordination to facilitate the
efficient functioning of the STECF and to organize meetings
for its working groups.

3. Where necessary, the secretariat shall coordinate activities
of STECF and its working groups with those of other
Community and international bodies.

Article 16

Final provisions

1.

Decision 93/619/EC is hereby repealed.

2. Members of STECF, appointed in accordance with Article
1 of Decision 93/619/EC shall remain in office as members of
the Committee established by the present Decision until the
new members of STECF are appointed in accordance with
Article 3 of the present Decision.

The provisions of Article 5 shall apply mutatis mutandis
3.
following the expiry of the term of office of the members
referred to in paragraph 2 of this article.

Decision 93/619/EC shall be repealed as from a date of
4.
the first meeting of the Committee established by the present
Decision.

Done at Brussels, 26 August 2005.

For the Commission

Joe BORG
Member of the Commission

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ANNEX

ALLOWANCES

STECF members and external experts shall be entitled to allowances further to their participation in the activities of the
STECF as follows:
— Attendance at STECF meetings and working groups

Chairperson

Vice Chairperson (1)

Other attendee

(1) Only foreseen at STECF meeting

STECF meetings

Working Groups

(EUR per full day)

300

300

250

300

0

250

Should the participation only take place in a morning or in an afternoon, the allowance should be of 50 % of the full
day allowance.

— Reports

STECF opinions at
plenary sessions or by
correspondence (1)

Background reports (2) prior
to STECF meetings and
working groups

(EUR)

Rapporteur

300

300 (3)

(1) Allowance to be paid for the completion of the opinion.
(2) Summaries, inquiries and background information.
(3) With a maximum of 15 days, the allowance should be paid based on the timeframe decided by the Commission as specified in its

prior written agreement. However the Commission may decide to extend the number of days if deemed necessary.