2008/860/EC: Commission Decision of 29 October 2008 on a Community financial contribution towards Member States’ fisheries control, inspection and surveillance programmes for 2008 (notified under document number C(2008) 6262)
Date: 2008-10-29
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU financing, computer network, fishing controls, information network, maritime surveillance, remote sensing, satellite

14.11.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 303/13

COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 29 October 2008
on a Community financial contribution towards Member States’ fisheries control, inspection and
surveillance programmes for 2008

(notified under document number C(2008) 6262)

(2008/860/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

(5)

Having regard to the Treaty
Community,

establishing the European

In order to qualify for the contribution, automatic loca­
lisation devices should satisfy the requirements fixed by
of
Commission Regulation
18 December 2003 laying down detailed provisions
regarding satellite-based Vessel Monitoring Systems (3).

2244/2003

(EC) No

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 861/2006 of
22 May 2006 establishing Community financial measures for
the implementation of the common fisheries policy and in the
area of the Law of the Sea (1), and in particular Article 21
thereof,

(6)

The measures provided for
accordance with the opinion of
Fisheries and Aquaculture,

in this Decision are in
the Committee for

Whereas:

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

Member States have forwarded to the Commission their
fisheries control programme for 2008 together with the
applications
for a Community financial contribution
towards the expenditure to be incurred in carrying out
the projects contained in such programme.

Applications concerning actions listed in Article 8(a) of
Regulation
for
Community funding.

861/2006 may

(EC) No

qualify

Applications for Community funding shall comply with
the
in Commission Regulation (EC)
rules
No 391/2007 (2).

set out

It is appropriate to fix the maximum amounts and the
rate of the Community financial contribution within the
limits set by Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 861/2006
and to lay down the conditions under which such contri­
bution may be granted.

Article 1

Subject matter

This Decision provides for a Community financial contribution
for 2008 towards expenditure incurred by Member States for
2008 in implementing the monitoring and control systems
applicable to the common fisheries policy, as referred to in
Article 8(a) of Regulation (EC) No 861/2006.
It establishes
the amount of the Community financial contribution for each
Member State, the rate of the Community financial contribution
and the conditions on which such contribution may be granted.

Article 2

Closure of outstanding commitments

Member States shall ensure that all payments in respect of
which a reimbursement
is claimed shall be made by the
Member State concerned by 30 June 2012. Payments made
by a Member State after this deadline shall not be eligible for
reimbursement. The budgetary appropriations related to this
Decision
by
decommitted
31 December 2013.

latest

shall

the

be

at

(1) OJ L 160, 14.6.2006, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 97, 12.4.2007, p. 30.

(3) OJ L 333, 20.12.2003, p. 17.

L 303/14

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

14.11.2008

Article 3

New technologies and IT networks

fisheries activities, shall qualify for a maximum financial contri­
bution of EUR 4 500 per vessel within the limits established in
Annex IV.

Expenditure incurred on the purchase of,
installation and
technical assistance for, computer technology and setting up
IT networks in order to allow efficient and secure data
of
exchange
and
surveillance of fisheries activities, shall qualify for a financial
contribution of 50 % of
the eligible expenditure within the
limits laid down in Annex I.

in connection with monitoring,

control

Article 4

Automatic localisation devices

Expenditure incurred in the purchase and fitting on board
1.
fishing vessels of automatic localisation devices enabling
of
vessels to be monitored at a distance by a fisheries monitoring
centre through a vessel monitoring system (VMS) shall qualify
for a maximum financial contribution of EUR 4 500 per vessel
within the limits established in Annex II.

2. Within the EUR 4 500 limit provided for in paragraph 1,
the financial contribution for the first EUR 1 500 of eligible
expenditure shall be at a rate of 100 %.

2.
The financial contribution for expenditure incurred on the
purchase and fitting on board fishing vessels of ERS devices
shall be at a rate of 75 % within the EUR 4 500 limit
provided for in paragraph 1.

In order
shall

to qualify for a financial contribution, ERS
3.
devices
established under
satisfy
Council Regulation (EC) No 1966/2006 (1) and Commission
Regulation (EC) No 1566/2007 (2).

requirements

the

Article 7

Pilot projects

Expenditure incurred in pilot projects on new control tech­
nologies shall qualify for a financial contribution of 50 % of
the eligible expenditure within the limits laid down in Annex V.

Article 8

Training

The

financial

3.
expenditure
contribution for
comprised between EUR 1 500 and EUR 4 500 per vessel
shall amount to a maximum of 50 % of such expenditure.

eligible

In order to qualify, automatic localisation devices shall
(EC)
fixed

requirements

Regulation

by

4.
satisfy
No 2244/2003.

the

Article 5

Electronic recording and reporting systems

Expenditure incurred on the purchase of,
installation and
technical assistance for, electronic recording and reporting
in order to
in a fisheries monitoring centre,
systems (ERS)
allow efficient and secure data exchange in connection with
fisheries activities,
monitoring, control and surveillance of
shall qualify for a financial contribution of 50 % of
the
eligible expenditure within the limits laid down in Annex III.

Article 6

Electronic recording and reporting devices

1.
Expenditure incurred on the purchase and fitting on board
of fishing vessels of ERS devices enabling vessels to record and
report electronically to a fisheries monitoring centre data on

servants

Expenditure incurred on training and exchange programmes of
civil
and
surveillance tasks in the fisheries area shall qualify for a
financial contribution of 50 % of
the eligible expenditure
within the limits laid down in Annex VI.

for monitoring

responsible

control

Article 9

Assessment of expenditure

Expenditure incurred in implementing a system to assess expen­
diture incurred in controlling the common fisheries policy shall
the eligible
qualify for a financial contribution of 50 % of
expenditure within the limits laid down in Annex VII.

Article 10

Seminars and media tools

Expenditure incurred in initiatives including seminar and media
tools aimed at enhancing awareness among fishermen and other
players such as inspectors, public prosecutors and judges, as
well as among the general public on the need to fight irre­
sponsible and illegal
fishing and on the implementation of
common fisheries policy rules, shall qualify for a financial
contribution of 75 % of
the eligible expenditure within the
limits laid down in Annex VIII.

(1) OJ L 409, 30.12.2006, p. 1, as corrected by OJ L 36, 8.2.2007, p. 3.
(2) OJ L 340, 22.12.2007, p. 46.

14.11.2008

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Official Journal of the European Union

L 303/15

Article 11

Fisheries patrol vessels and aircraft

a percentage of their total yearly activity, as declared by the
Member States.

1.
Expenditure related to the purchase and modernisation of
vessels and aircraft used for inspection and surveillance of
fishing activities by the competent authorities of the Member
States shall qualify, within the limits laid down in Annex IX, for
a financial contribution of 50 % of
the eligible expenditure
incurred by Member States.

Article 12

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 29 October 2008.

2.
The financial contribution specified for each Member State
in Annex IX is calculated on the basis of the utilisation of the
concerned vessels and aircraft for inspection and surveillance as

For the Commission

Joe BORG
Member of the Commission

L 303/16

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

14.11.2008

ANNEX I

New technologies and IT networks

Member State

Expenditure planned in the
national fisheries control
programme

Eligible expenditure

Community contribution

(EUR)

Belgium

Bulgaria

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Germany

Estonia

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Hungary

Malta

Netherlands

Austria

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Slovenia

Slovakia

Finland

Sweden

United Kingdom

0

50 000

0

0

0

50 000

0

4 500 000

415 936

70 000

2 185 864

4 700 000

0

77 330

0

0

0

0

50 000

0

0

0

50 000

0

3 000 000

340 336

70 000

2 155 864

1 700 000

0

77 330

0

0

0

0

25 000

0

0

0

25 000

0

1 500 000

170 168

35 000

1 077 932

850 000

0

38 665

0

0

0

1 174 410

1 104 410

552 205

0

0

0

140 000

51 300

0

350 000

135 000

201 435

0

0

0

140 000

51 300

0

350 000

135 000

200 781

0

0

0

70 000

25 650

0

175 000

67 500

100 391

Total

14 101 275

9 425 021

4 712 511

A total amount of EUR 4 676 254 EUR was considered as ineligible expenditures on the basis of Annex V of Regulation
(EC) No 391/2007.

A 50 % rate of Community contribution was applied on eligible expenditure according to Article 3 of the present
Decision.

14.11.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 303/17

ANNEX II

Automatic localisation devices

Member State

Expenditure planned in the national fisheries
control programme

Community contribution

(EUR)

Belgium

Bulgaria

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Germany

Estonia

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Hungary

Malta

Netherlands

Austria

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Slovenia

Slovakia

Finland

Sweden

United Kingdom

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1 500 000

750 000

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

20 000

17 500

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Total

1 520 000

767 500

The Community contribution was calculated according to the rules defined in Article 4 of the present Decision.

L 303/18

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

14.11.2008

ANNEX III

Electronic recording and reporting systems

(EUR)

Member State

Expenditure planned in the
national fisheries control
programme

Eligible expenditure

Community contribution

Belgium

Bulgaria

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Germany

Estonia

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Hungary

Malta

Netherlands

Austria

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Slovenia

Slovakia

Finland

Sweden

United Kingdom

210 000

210 000

105 000

0

0

0

604 026

530 000

0

0

115 500

0

2 500 000

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

604 026

530 000

0

0

115 500

0

2 500 000

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

302 013

265 000

0

0

57 750

0

1 250 000

0

0

0

0

0

0

1 540 000

1 540 000

770 000

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Total

5 499 526

5 499 526

2 749 763

The Community contribution has been calculated on the basis of a 50 % rate according to Article 5 of the present
Decision.

14.11.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 303/19

ANNEX IV

Electronic recording and reporting devices

(EUR)

Member State

Expenditure planned in the
national fisheries control
programme

Eligible expenditure

Community contribution

Belgium

Bulgaria

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Germany

Estonia

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Hungary

Malta

Netherlands

Austria

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Slovenia

Slovakia

Finland

Sweden

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2 000 000

1 098 000

823 500

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

United Kingdom

739 834

Total

2 739 834

739 834

1 837 834

554 876

1 378 376

For France, this expenditure concerns 244 electronic logbooks, which have a maximum threshold of EUR 4 500 each. As
a consequence, EUR 902 000 were considered as ineligible.

In conformity with Article 6 of the present Decision, a rate of 75 % has been applied to these expenditures.

L 303/20

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

14.11.2008

ANNEX V

Pilot projects

Member State

Expenditure planned in the
national fisheries control
programme

Eligible expenditure

Community contribution

(EUR)

Belgium

Bulgaria

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Germany

Estonia

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Hungary

Malta

Netherlands

Austria

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Slovenia

Slovakia

Finland

Sweden

United Kingdom

Total

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

234 000

295 934

529 934

234 000

269 031

503 031

117 000

134 516

251 516

EUR 26 903 were considered as ineligible expenditure according to Annex V of Regulation (EC) No 391/2007. A rate of
50 % of Community contribution was applied on eligible expenditure according to Article 7 of the present Decision.

14.11.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 303/21

ANNEX VI

Training

Member State

Expenditure planned in the
national fisheries control
programme

Eligible expenditure

Community contribution

(EUR)

Belgium

Bulgaria

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Germany

Estonia

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Hungary

Malta

Netherlands

Austria

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Slovenia

Slovakia

Finland

Sweden

United Kingdom

0

40 000

0

0

123 753

18 500

0

40 000

173 910

92 000

122 000

1 465 230

0

17 400

0

0

0

0

40 000

0

0

83 485

18 500

0

40 000

157 110

92 000

122 000

1 165 230

0

17 400

0

0

0

0

20 000

0

0

41 743

9 250

0

20 000

78 555

46 000

61 000

582 615

0

8 700

0

0

0

120 000

120 000

60 000

0

0

0

200 000

48 500

0

130 000

0

178 746

0

0

0

200 000

48 500

0

130 000

0

177 266

0

0

0

100 000

24 250

0

65 000

0

88 633

Total

2 770 039

2 411 491

1 205 746

EUR 358 548 were considered as ineligible expenditure according to Annex V of Regulation (EC) No 391/2007. A rate of
50 % of Community contribution was applied on eligible expenditure according to Article 8 of the present Decision.

L 303/22

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

14.11.2008

ANNEX VII

Assessment of expenditure

Member State

Expenditure planned in the
national fisheries control
programme

Eligible expenditure

Community contribution

(EUR)

Belgium

Bulgaria

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Germany

Estonia

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Hungary

Malta

Netherlands

Austria

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Slovenia

Slovakia

Finland

Sweden

United Kingdom

0

12 000

0

12 000

0

6 000

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Total

12 000

12 000

6 000

A rate of 50 % of Community contribution was applied on eligible expenditure according to Article 9 of the present
Decision.

14.11.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 303/23

ANNEX VIII

Seminars and media tools

Member State

Expenditure planned in the
national fisheries control
programme

Eligible expenditure

Community contribution

(EUR)

Belgium

Bulgaria

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Germany

Estonia

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Hungary

Malta

Netherlands

Austria

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Slovenia

Slovakia

Finland

Sweden

United Kingdom

0

58 000

0

0

33 557

0

0

1 000 000

394 800

0

0

497 200

0

15 900

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

8 500

0

0

0

104 250

Total

2 112 207

0

58 000

0

0

33 557

0

0

1 000 000

394 800

0

0

447 200

0

15 900

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

8 500

0

0

0

104 250

2 062 207

0

43 500

0

0

25 168

0

0

750 000

296 100

0

0

335 400

0

11 925

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

6 375

0

0

0

78 188

1 546 656

An amount of EUR 50 000 was considered as ineligible expenditure according to Annex V of Regulation (EC)
No 391/2007.

A rate of 75 % of Community contribution was applied to eligible expenditure as indicated in Article 10 of the present
Decision.

L 303/24

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

14.11.2008

ANNEX IX

Patrol vessels and aircraft

Member State

Expenditure planned in the
national fisheries control
programme

Eligible expenditure under this
Decision

Community contribution

(EUR)

Belgium

Bulgaria

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Germany

Estonia

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Hungary

Malta

Netherlands

Austria

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Slovenia

Slovakia

Finland

Sweden

United Kingdom

0

0

0

0

301 678

3 826 458

0

14 603 000

44 225 546

575 000

260 000

24 000 000

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

166 678

68 000

0

558 000

1 657 546

500 000

60 000

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

130 000

130 000

0

0

180 000

0

1 005 765

0

0

170 000

0

999 448

0

0

0

0

83 339

34 000

0

279 000

828 773

250 000

30 000

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

65 000

0

0

85 000

0

499 724

Total

89 107 447

4 309 672

2 154 836

Among this global amount of EUR 89 107 447 planned in the national fisheries control programmes for patrol vessels
and aircraft, a global amount of EUR 80 361 000 will be dealt with under the second financial decision. A reduction of
this envelope will be necessary in order to respect the budgetary commitments available in 2008.

EUR 4 436 775 of these planned expenditures were considered as ineligible according to Articles 6 and 7 and to Annex V
of Regulation (EC) No 391/2007.

A rate of 50 % was applied on all eligible expenditure according to Article 11 of the present Decision.