Commission Decision

of 28 December 2004

on a financial contribution from the Community towards actions planned by Member States to implement control, inspection and surveillance programmes in 2004 (second instalment)

(notified under document number C(2004) 5310)

(2004/930/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Decision 2004/465/EC of 29 April 2004 on a Community financial contribution towards Member States fisheries control programmes [1], and in particular Article 6(1) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Member States have forwarded to the Commission their fisheries control programmes for the period from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2004 together with the applications for Community financial contribution towards the expenditure to be incurred in carrying out such programmes.

(2) Applications concerning actions listed in Article 4 of Decision 2004/465/EC may qualify for Community funding.

(3) It is appropriate to fix the maximum amounts of Community contribution towards eligible expenditure for 2004 for each Member State aid granted for actions included in Article 4 of Decision 2004/465/EC, the Community contribution rate for such actions and the conditions on which national expenditure is to be reimbursed by the Community.

(4) Member States must, in accordance with Article 8 of Decision 2004/465/EC, commit their expenditure within a period of 12 months from the end of the year in which this Decision is notified to them. They must also comply with the provision of that Decision as regards starting their projects and submitting applications for reimbursement.

(5) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Subject matter

This Decision establishes the amount of the Community financial contribution for each Member State, the rate of the Community financial contribution and the conditions on which the contribution may be granted towards actions referred to in Article 4 of Decision 2004/465/EC.

Article 2

Electronic localisation devices

1. Expenditure incurred in the purchase and fitting on board of fishing vessels of electronic localisation devices enabling 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 4500 per vessel within the limits established in Annex I.

2. Within the EUR 4500 limit provided for in paragraph 1, the Community financial contribution for the first EUR 1500 of eligible expenditure shall be at a rate of 100 %.

3. The Community financial contribution for eligible expenditure comprised between EUR 1500 and EUR 4500 per vessel, shall amount to a maximum of 50 % of such expenditure.

4. The electronic localisation devices should satisfy requirements fixed by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2244/2003 of 18 December 2003 laying down detailed provisions regarding satellite-based vessel monitoring systems [2].

Article 3

New technologies and IT networks

Expenditure incurred on the purchase of, installation and technical assistance for, computer technology and setting up of IT networks in order to allow efficient and secure data exchange in connection with monitoring, control and surveillance of fisheries activities, shall qualify for a financial contribution of 50 % of the eligible expenditure within the limits laid down in Annex II. However, investments related to the station at Kerguelen Island on reception and processing of radar satellite data shall qualify for a financial contribution of 40 % of the eligible expenditure within the limits laid down in Annex II.

Article 4

Pilot projects on new technologies

1. Expenditure incurred in pilot projects relating to the implementation of new technologies to improve the monitoring of fisheries activities shall qualify for a financial contribution of 50 % of the eligible expenditure within the limits laid down in Annex III.

2. Pilot projects should satisfy the conditions set out in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1461/2003 of 18 August 2003 laying down conditions for pilot projects for the electronic transmission of information on fishing activities and for remote sensing [3].

Article 5

Training

Expenditure incurred on training and exchange programmes of civil servants responsible for monitoring control 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 IV.

Article 6

Pilot inspection and observer schemes

1. Expenditure incurred in pilot inspection and observer schemes shall qualify for a financial contribution of 50 % of the eligible expenditure within the limits laid down in Annex V.

2. These projects should satisfy in particular the conditions set out in Council Regulation (EC) No 812/2004 of 26 April 2004 laying down measures concerning incidental catches of cetaceans in fisheries and amending Regulation (EC) No 88/98 [4].

Article 7

Assessment of expenditure

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

Article 8

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 irresponsible 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 VII.

Article 9

Fisheries patrol vessels and aircraft

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 VIII for a financial contribution of:

- 50 % of the eligible expenditure incurred by acceding Member States on 1 May 2004,

- 25 % of the eligible expenditure incurred by other Member States.

Article 10

Reimbursement claims

Claims for reimbursement of expenditure and for payment of advances shall comply with Articles 12 and 13 of, and Annex I, part C to Decision 2004/465/EC.

Article 11

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 28 December 2004.

For the Commission

Joe Borg

Member of the Commission

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[1] OJ L 157, 30.4.2004, p. 114, corrigendum in OJ L 195, 2.6.2004, p. 36.

[2] OJ L 333, 20.12.2003, p. 17.

[3] OJ L 208, 19.8.2003, p. 14.

[4] OJ L 150, 30.4.2004, p. 12.

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