PURPOSE: with respect to the outermost regions, to extend until 31 December 2009 the deadline for the entry into the fishing fleet of the fishing vessels receiving national State aid for renewal and amending Regulation (EC) No 639/2004.
LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Regulation (EC) No 1207/2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 639/2004 on the management of fishing fleets registered in the Community outermost regions.
CONTENT: the Council adopted a Regulation extending until 31 December 2011 the period allowed to the outermost regions of the EU countries to add extra fleet capacity using public funds. The purpose of the Regulation is to extend the 31 December 2008 deadline laid down in Regulation (EC) No 639/2004 for the derogation which the outermost regions enjoy under Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 so as to enable vessels for which aid has been granted but which are still under construction to enter the fleet.
The deadline is being extended owing to the late adoption of the legal instrument allowing the Member States concerned to grant this aid and the limited capacity of the shipyards.
Reporting: the Commission will submit to the European Parliament and the Council a report on the implementation of the Regulation no later than 30 June 2012.
ENTRY INTO FORCE: 05/12/2008.