PURPOSE : to present a proposal for a Council Decision on a financial contribution to certain expenditure incurred by the Member States in implementing the control, inspection and surveillance systems applicable to the common fisheries policy.
CONTENT : policing is an essential element of the common fisheries policy. Progress in this area is unanimously felt to be necessary, as discussion in the Council and the Parliament has shown. A comprehensive approach is required. This is set out elsewhere and the attached proposal covers its financial side.
Responsibility for the actual exercise of policing falls to he Member States. Community financial support is needed in order to promote synergies between them, kick start an innovative dynamic in certain areas, and prevent possible weaknesses in any particular Member State from affecting the efforts of the others, particularly in the case of the very many fisheries where at least two Member States are involved. The high most of policing, particularly action at sea, must also be taken into consideration. Recognition of this situation led to two Council Decisions permitting Community support for Member States' expenditure on inspection work: Decision 89/631/EEC covering 1991 to 1995 and Decision 95/527/EEC covering 1996 to 2000. Analysis of these Decisions clearly indicate that the part-financing programme has had a very positive impact on the inspection systems of the Member States. Community assistance is still needed, however. A new Council Decision is therefore needed. Continuation should not however be mere renewal. The context has changed.
Therefore, this proposal proposes a three year period of application and not five years as for the earlier Decisions. This will ensure the continuity without which action loses its utility and meet immediate needs while being consistent timewise with the forthcoming discussions. Moreover, the priorities and the amounts shall also be adjusted.
As regards computerised information exchange between national administrations and between them and the Commission, a vigorous impulse must be given so that the possibilities offered by IT networks are exploited as quickly as possible. The other essential technology is satellite monitoring of fishing boats (VSM: vessel monitoring system). The aid for the training of officials responsible for policing and for personnel exchanges between Member States is retained.
As far as the budget is concerned, reduced support under certain headings and increases support under others means adjustment of the budget needed, which for the previous Decision was EUR 41 million a year on average. The annual amount scheduled for 2001 to 2003 is EUR 35 million. Lastly, guarantees of consistency, relevance and transparency are increased.�