Article 1 Definitions
For the purposes of this Decision the following definitions shall apply: 1. ‘Member State concerned’ shall mean a Member State having a fishing interest in the area or fisheries covered by a Regional Advisory Council; 2. ‘Fisheries sector’ shall mean the catching sub-sector, including shipowners, small-scale fishermen, employed fishermen, producer organisations as well as, amongst others, processors, traders and other market organisations and women's networks; 3. ‘Other interest groups’ shall mean, amongst others, environmental organisations and groups, aquaculture producers, consumers and recreational or sport fishermen.
Article 2 Establishment of Regional Advisory Councils
1. A Regional Advisory Council is established for each of the following: (a) the Baltic Sea; (b) the Mediterranean Sea; (c) the North Sea; (d) north-western waters; (e) south-western waters; (f) pelagic stocks; (g) high seas/long distance fleet. 2. The geographical areas covered by each Regional Advisory Council are set out in Annex I. Each Regional Advisory Council may create subdivisions to deal with issues that cover specific fisheries and biological regions.
Article 3 Procedure
1. Representatives of the fisheries sector and other interest groups with an interest in one of the Regional Advisory Councils shall submit a request concerning the operation of that Regional Advisory Council to the Member States concerned and to the Commission. The request shall be compatible with the objectives, principles and guidelines of the Common Fisheries Policy as set out in Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 and shall include: (a) a statement of objectives; (b) operating principles; (c) initial rules of procedure; (d) the budget estimate; (e) a provisional list of organisations. 2. The Member States concerned shall determine whether the application is representative and in accordance with the provisions laid down in this Decision, if necessary following discussions with stakeholder interests, and shall, by common agreement, transmit a recommendation to the Commission on that Regional Advisory Council. 3. After evaluation of the recommendation and possible amendments to the request, the Commission shall adopt a decision as soon as possible and in any event shall aim to adopt it at the latest within three months, specifying the date from which the Regional Advisory Council shall become operational. The decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union .
Article 4 Structure
1. Each Regional Advisory Council shall consist of a general assembly and an executive committee. 2. The general assembly shall meet at least once a year to approve the annual report and the annual strategic plan drawn up by the executive committee. 3. The general assembly shall appoint an executive committee of up to 24 members. The executive committee shall manage the work of the Regional Advisory Council and adopt its recommendations.
Article 5 Membership
1. The Regional Advisory Councils shall be composed of representatives from the fisheries sector and other interest groups affected by the Common Fisheries Policy. 2. European and national organisations representing the fisheries sector and other interest groups may propose members to the Member States concerned. These Member States shall agree on the members of the general assembly. 3. In the general assembly and executive committee, two thirds of the seats shall be allotted to representatives of the fisheries sector and one third to representatives of the other interest groups affected by the Common Fisheries Policy. 4. At least one representative of the catching subsector from each Member State concerned shall be represented in the executive committee.
Article 6 Participation by non-members
1. Scientists from institutes of the Member States concerned or international bodies shall be invited to participate as experts in the work of the Regional Advisory Councils. Any other qualified scientist may also be invited. 2. The Commission and national and regional administrations of the Member States concerned shall have the right to participate at any meeting of a Regional Advisory Council as active observers. 3. A representative of the Advisory Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture shall have the right to participate at any meeting of a Regional Advisory Council as an active observer. 4. Representatives of the fisheries sector and other interest groups from third countries, including representatives from Regional Fisheries Organisations, that have a fishing interest in the area or fisheries covered by a Regional Advisory Council may be invited to participate in that Regional Advisory Council as active observers when issues which affect them are discussed. 5. The meetings of the general assembly shall be open to the public. The meetings of the executive committee shall be open to the public unless, in exceptional cases, decided otherwise by a majority of the executive committee.
Article 7 Functioning
1. Regional Advisory Councils shall adopt the measures necessary for their organisation including, as appropriate, a secretariat and working groups. 2. Regional Advisory Councils shall adopt the necessary measures to ensure transparency in all stages of their decision-making process. Recommendations adopted by the executive committee shall be made available immediately to the general assembly, the Commission, Member States concerned and, upon request, to any member of the public. 3. The members of the executive committee shall, where possible, adopt recommendations by consensus. If no consensus can be reached, dissenting opinions expressed by members shall be recorded in the recommendations adopted by the majority of the members present and voting. Upon receipt in writing of the recommendations, the Commission and, where relevant, the Member States concerned shall reply precisely to them within a reasonable time period and, at the latest, within three months. 4. Each Regional Advisory Council shall designate a chairperson by consensus. The chairperson shall act impartially. 5. The Member States concerned shall provide the appropriate support, including logistical help, to facilitate the functioning of a Regional Advisory Council.
Article 8 Coordination between Regional Advisory Councils
If an issue is of common interest to two or more Regional Advisory Councils, they shall coordinate their positions with a view to adopting joint recommendations on that issue.
Article 9 Financing
1. A Regional Advisory Council which has acquired legal personality may apply for Community financial aid as a body pursuing an aim of general European interest within the meaning of Article 162(b) of Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 of 23 December 2002 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities ( 6 ). 2. The Commission shall sign a grant agreement with each Regional Advisory Council to cover their operational costs, including translation and interpretation costs in accordance with Annex II.
Article 9a Commission verifications
The Commission may carry out all verifications it considers necessary to ensure compliance with the tasks assigned by Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 and this Decision to the Regional Advisory Councils.
Article 10 Annual report and audit
1. Each Regional Advisory Council shall transmit an annual report of its activities to the Commission, the Member States concerned and the Advisory Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture before 31 March of the year following the year covered by the report. 2. The Commission or the Court of Auditors may, at any time, arrange for an audit to be carried out either by an outside body of its choice or by the Commission or the Court of Auditors departments themselves. 3. Each Regional Advisory Council shall appoint a certified auditor for the period during which it benefits from Community funds.
Article 11 Review
Three years following the date on which the last Regional Advisory Council becomes operational, or, at the latest by 30 June 2007, the Commission shall report to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of this Decision and the functioning of the Regional Advisory Councils.
Article 12 Entry into force
This Decision shall enter into force on the seventh day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union .