CELEX: 31985D0285
Language: en
Date: 1985-04-24 00:00:00
Title: 85/285/EEC: Commission Decision of 24 April 1985 on the multiannual guidance programme in respect of the fishing fleet submitted by Ireland pursuant to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2908/83

15 . 6 . 85                           Official Journal of the European Communities                               No L 157/23
                                                 COMMISSION DECISION
                                                        of 24 April 1985
                     on the multiannua] guidance programme in respect of the fishing fleet submitted
                                by Ireland pursuant to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2908/83
                                                (Only the English text is authentic)
                                                         (85 /285/ EEC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN                                       Whereas these measures are designed to improve the
COMMUNITIES,                                                         financial situation of the Irish fishing fleet ;
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European                Whereas the Irish authorities have already set up a per­
Economic Community,                                                  manent system for monitoring entries into service of
                                                                     vessels of more than 20 meters (65 feet) with a view to
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2908/                   ensuring better use of available stocks and optimalising
83 of 4 October 1983 on a common measure for restruc­                the distribution of fishing effort ;
turing, modernizing and developing the fishing
industry and for developing aquaculture ('), and in par­             Whereas the programme may, having regard to the pro­
ticular Article 5 thereof,                                           duction potential, the measures for the conservation
                                                                     and management of fish stocks, the demand for the
Whereas the Irish Government forwarded on 4 March                    products concerned and the guidelines of the common
1985 a multiannual guidance programme in respect of                  fisheries policy, constitute a suitable framework for
the fishing fleet, hereinafter called 'the programme';               projects which may qualify for financial support from
                                                                     the Community ;
Whereas the period of implementation of the pro­
gramme covers at least the proposed duration of the                  Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are
common measure, in accordance with the first para­                   in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Com­
graph of Article 3 of the Regulation (EEC) No 2908/                  mittee for the Fishing Industry,
83 ;
                                                                     HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION :
Whereas the programme contains the information re­
ferred to in Article 4 of the Regulation (EEC) No 2908/
83 ;
                                                                                              Article 1
 Whereas, to ensure the rational restructuring of the
 Irish fleet, the programme provides for the renewal of              The multiannual guidance programme in respect of the
 the fleet, without any increase in overall tonnage, in a            fishing fleet forwarded by the Irish Government on
                                                                    4 March 1985 , the main features of which are set out in
 manner compatible with the foreseeable availability of
 fish stocks in the medium term ; whereas the principal              Annex I hereto, is hereby approved subject to the pro­
                                                                     visions set out in Annex II hereto.
 aim of such renewal is to improve working conditions
and catch processing and storage conditions and to
 diversify fishing methods ;                                                                  Article 2
Whereas the Irish authorities recently announced mea­                This Decision is addressed to Ireland .
sures to improve the financial situation of the fishing
fleet involving amongst other things a reduction in the
rate of interest on mortgage loans contracted in respect             Done at Brussels, 24 April 1985 .
of fishing vessels and the extension, in most cases, of
the period of repayment of loans ;                                                                         For the Commission
                                                                                                           Frans ANDRIESSEN
Whereas the fuel used by fishing vessels was recently
exempted of all excise duty ;                                                                                 Vice-President
(') OJ No L 290, 22. 10. 1983 , p. 1 .
 ---pagebreak--- No L 157/24                          Official Journal of the European Communities                                  15 . 6. 85
                                                          ANNEX I
          MAIN FEATURES OF THE GUIDANCE PROGRAMME IN RESPECT OF THE FISHING FLEET
          DRAWN UP BY THE IRISH GOVERNMENT WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF COUNCIL
                                              REGULATION (EEC) No 2908/83
          1.    Purpose of the programme
                Restructuring of the fishing fleet by the replacement of obsolete vessels and the modernization of
                vessels in service .
          2.    Delimitation of the area concerned by the programme
                The territory of Ireland .
          3.    Duration of the programme
                The programme is valid from 1 January 1985 to 31 December 1989.
          4.    Objectives of the programme
                The objectives of the programme are to :
                — stabilize the capacity of the fleet in the medium term, account being taken of a slight increase
                    in the stocks available for human consumption and of the stability of stocks available for
                    industrial processing,
                — improve working and safety conditions on board ,
                — improve on-board storage and processing of catches with a view to improving product quality
                    and thereby increasing profitability.
          5.    The following measures are proposed to attain these objectives :
          5.1 .  Construction
                — stabilization of the overall capacity of the fleet around the level of 32 000 grt existing at
                    31 December 1984,
                — monitoring of additions to the fleet, which must be offset by an overall withdrawal of vessels
                    of an equivalent capacity.
          5.2.  Modernization
                Modernization aid will be reserved by priority for vessels less than 25 years old and/or vessels
                fishing for pelagic species to be converted to multi-purpose vessels.
          6.    Forecast investments required to attain the objective set out in point 4 above
          6.1 . For vessel construction (replacement)
                                                                                       1985 to 1989
                               Additions to the fleet                                   4 000 grt
                               Withdrawal from the fleet                                4 000 grt
          6.2 . For vessel modernization
                The maximum number of vessels scheduled for modernization in the period 1985 to 1989 is 37 .
          7.    Investment forecasts (million ECU)
                Total planned investments ( 1985 to 1989) in new vessels and modernization of vessels : 56 million
                ECU (£ Irl 40 million);
                State aid planned for construction and modernization of vessels : ( 1985 to 1989) 14 million ECU
                (£ Irl 10 million).
                These financial figures, as well as the breakdown between the various measures, are indicative.
 ---pagebreak--- 15 . 6. 85                         Official Journal of the European Communities                                 No L 157 /25
                                                         ANNEX II
                                                 FINAL CONCLUSIONS
           1. The Commission notes that the programme submitted by the Irish Government, which constitutes
              the future framework for the granting of financial aid both by the Community and by Ireland,
              constitutes an initial step, following the adoption of the common fisheries policy, towards
              medium-term restructuring of the fishing fleet, with the aim of ensuring satisfactory economic
              conditions for the fishing industry and of improving the income of those employed therein .
              As regards capacity, however, a continuous watch must be kept on initiatives involving the con­
              struction of new vessels and the modernization of existing ones. In this context, the Commission
              considers that the Irish authorities should extend their system of vessel licences as soon as pos­
              sible in order to ensure a greater balance between stocks and capacity.
              The Commission likewise approves of the Irish authorities ' intention to scrutinize very closely
              any application for the modernization or replacement of vessels.
               Lastly , the Commission feels that a system should be set up for monitoring the effect of vessel
               modernization on capacity .
           2. The Commission approves the Irish authorities' intention to encourage some redeployment of the
              fleet in activities other than pelagic fishing by improving the multi-purpose nature of the vessels
              in question .
           3. The Commission considers that the scheme to improve the financial situation of the Irish fleet
              published by Ireland on 12 February 1985 , will have to be compatible with the present pro­
              gramme .
           4. The Commission points out that the investment forecasts contained in this programme involve no
              commitment as regards any financial aid from the Community .
           5. The Commission considers that, given available fish stocks and the state of the Irish market for
              fish , the programme targets and measures to attain them should be subjected to more detailed
              analysis within the framework of the annual review referred to in Article 6 of Regulation (EEC)
              No 2908 / 83 . The Commission reserves its right to review its present decision by the end of 1986,
              in the light of developments in the structural and economic situation of fishing enterprises in
              Ireland .