COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION

of 9 December 2013

on an additional financial contribution towards Member States’ fisheries control programmes for 2013

(notified under document C(2013) 8576)

(Only the Bulgarian, Croatian, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, Greek, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish and Swedish texts are authentic)

(2013/762/EU)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 861/2006 of 22 May 2006 establishing Community financial measures for the implementation of the common fisheries policy and in the area of the Law of the Sea(1), and in particular Article 21 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Based upon the requests for Union co-financing that have been submitted by Member States in their fisheries control programmes for 2013, the Commission has adopted Implementing Decision 2013/410/EU of 10 July 2013 on a Union financial contribution towards Member States’ fisheries control programmes for 2013(2), which has left some of the 2013 budget available unused.

(2) That unused part of the 2013 budget should now be allocated by a new Decision.

(3) In conformity with Article 21(2) of Regulation (EC) No 861/2006, Member States have been asked to submit programmes related to additional funding in the priority areas as defined by the Commission in its letter to Member States of 7 June 2013, i.e. projects aiming at adaptation of the Electronic Recording and Reporting Systems (ERS) in Member States in order to cater for the future obligation to land all catches including adaptation of Member States databases, interoperability of the ERS systems, measurement of engine power, and traceability of fishery products. Requirements to be met by operators and/or Member States carrying out investments in traceability projects were defined by the Commission in its letter to Member States of 14 May 2012.

(4) On that basis and given budgetary constraints, requests in the programmes for Union funding related to actions such as training and initiatives raising awareness on the common fisheries policy rules have been rejected, since they were not dedicated to the priority areas defined above. Within the priority areas indicated by the Commission, not all the projects in the programmes could be retained, due to budgetary restraints. The Commission had to select the projects to be co-financed on the basis of an evaluation of their conformity with the defined priorities.

(5) As to traceability projects, it is important to ensure that they are developed on the basis of internationally recognised standards, as required by Article 67(8) of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 404/2011(3).

(6) The applications for Union funding have been assessed with regard to their compliance with the rules set out in Commission Regulation (EC) No 391/2007 of 11 April 2007 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 861/2006 as regards the expenditure incurred by Member States in implementing the monitoring and control systems applicable to the Common Fisheries Policy(4).

(7) It is appropriate to fix the maximum amounts and the rate of the Union financial contribution within the limits set by Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 861/2006 and to lay down the conditions under which such contribution may be granted.

(8) In order to encourage investment in the priority actions defined by the Commission and in view of the negative impact of the financial crisis on Member States’ budgets, expenditure related to the above-mentioned priority areas should benefit from a high co-financing rate, within the limits laid down in Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 861/2006.

(9) In order to qualify for the contribution, projects co-financed on the basis of this decision should comply with all the relevant provision of Union legislation and, in particular with Implementing Regulation (EU) No 404/2011.

(10) 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 provides for an additional Union financial contribution towards expenditure incurred by Member States for 2013 in implementing monitoring and control systems applicable to the common fisheries policy (CFP), as referred to in Article 8(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 861/2006. It establishes the amount of the Union financial contribution for each Member State, the rate of the Union financial contribution and the conditions on which such contribution may be granted.

Article 2

Closure of outstanding commitments

All payments in respect of which a reimbursement is claimed shall be made by the Member State concerned by 30 June 2017. Payments made by a Member State after that deadline shall not be eligible for reimbursement. Unused budgetary appropriations related to this Decision shall be de-committed at the latest by 31 December 2018.

Article 3

New technologies and IT networks

1. Expenditure incurred, in respect of projects referred to in Annex I, on the setting up of new technologies and IT networks in order to allow efficient and secure collection and management of data in connection with monitoring, control and surveillance of fisheries activities, shall qualify for a financial contribution of 90 % of the eligible expenditure, within the limits laid down in that Annex.

2. As far as traceability projects are concerned, the EU contribution shall be limited to EUR 1 000 000 in case of investments carried out by Member State authorities, and to EUR 250 000 in case of private investments. The total number of traceability projects carried out by private operators shall be limited to eight per Member State and per financing decision.

3. In order to qualify for the financial contribution referred to in paragraph 2, all projects co-financed according to this decision shall satisfy the applicable requirements laid down in Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009(5) and Implementing Regulation (EU) No 404/2011.

4. Projects BG/13/02 related to Omega gauges, EL/13/10 related to tablets to be used for inspection purposes and PT/13/08 related to weighing equipment, which are referred to in Annex I, shall qualify for a financial contribution of 50 % of the eligible expenditure, within the limits laid down in that Annex.

Article 4

Automatic localisation devices

1. Expenditure incurred, in respect of projects referred to in Annex II, on the purchase and fitting on board of fishing vessels of automatic 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 financial contribution of 90 % of the eligible expenditure, within the limits established in that Annex.

2. In order to qualify for the financial contribution referred to in paragraph 1, automatic localisation devices shall satisfy the requirements laid down in Implementing Regulation (EU) No 404/2011.

Article 5

Electronic recording and reporting systems

Expenditure incurred, in respect of projects referred to in Annex III, on the development, purchase, and installation of, as well as technical assistance for, the components necessary for electronic recording and reporting systems (ERS) in order to allow interoperability of ERS systems between Member States as well as to enable the implementation of the obligation to land all catches (‘discard ban’), shall qualify for a financial contribution of 90 % of the eligible expenditure, within the limits laid down in that Annex.

Article 6

Pilot projects

Expenditure incurred, in respect of projects referred to in Annex V, on pilot projects on new control technologies shall qualify for a financial contribution of 50 % of the eligible expenditure, within the limits laid down in that Annex.

Article 7

Total maximum Union contribution per Member State

The planned expenditure, the eligible share thereof, and the maximum Union contribution per Member State are set as follows:

(EUR)
Member State	Expenditure planned in the national fisheries control additional programme	Expenditure for projects selected under this Decision	Maximum Union contribution
Belgium	430 000	280 000	252 000
Bulgaria	35 791	35 791	24 031
Denmark	4 195 144	1 251 235	876 285
Estonia	400 000	400 000	360 000
Ireland	200 000	200 000	180 000
Greece	228 500	78 500	50 650
Spain	2 989 879	1 037 300	769 570
France	2 058 585	1 356 145	631 082
Croatia	267 490	267 490	227 400
Italy	1 850 000	422 000	379 800
Cyprus	100 000	100 000	90 000
Latvia	124 038	124 038	111 634
Lithuania	99 919	99 919	89 927
Malta	1 470 510	615 000	553 500
Poland	1 487 812	1 389 812	1 090 831
Portugal	443 954	161 500	143 150
Romania	40 000	0	0
Finland	1 800 000	1 050 000	945 000
Sweden	2 450 000	1 150 000	1 035 000
United Kingdom	31 553	25 710	23 140
Total	20 703 175	10 044 440	7 833 000

Article 8

Addressees

This Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Belgium, the Republic of Bulgaria, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Republic of Estonia, Ireland, the Hellenic Republic, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic, the Republic of Croatia, the Italian Republic, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Portuguese Republic, Romania, the Republic of Finland, the Kingdom of Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Done at Brussels, 9 December 2013.

For the Commission

Maria DAMANAKI

Member of the Commission

(1)

OJ L 160, 14.6.2006, p. 1

(2)

OJ L 204, 31.7.2013, p. 54

(3)

OJ L 112, 30.4.2011, p. 1

(4)

OJ L 97, 12.4.2007, p. 30

(5)

OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 1

ANNEX I

NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND IT NETWORKS

(EUR)
Member State and project code	Expenditure planned in the national fisheries control additional programme	Expenditure for projects selected under this Decision	Maximum Union contribution
Bulgaria:
BG/13/02	20 452	20 452	10 226
BG/13/03	15 339	15 339	13 805
Sub-Total	35 791	35 791	24 031
Denmark:
DK/13/21	469 509	469 509	172 731
DK/13/23	335 363	335 363	301 827
DK/13/24	250 000	0	0
DK/13/25	250 000	0	0
DK/13/26	250 000	0	0
DK/13/27	278 000	0	0
DK/13/28	275 000	0	0
DK/13/29	275 000	0	0
DK/13/30	275 000	0	0
DK/13/31	275 000	111 000	99 900
DK/13/32	300 000	0	0
DK/13/33	403 423	0	0
DK/13/34	221 340	0	0
DK/13/35	2 146	0	0
Sub-Total	3 859 781	915 872	574 458
Ireland:
IE/13/04	200 000	200 000	180 000
Sub-Total	200 000	200 000	180 000
Greece:
EL/13/10	50 000	50 000	25 000
EL/13/11	28 500	28 500	25 650
Sub-Total	78 500	78 500	50 650
Spain:
ES/13/42	718 632	0	0
ES/13/45	454 090	0	0
ES/13/50	365 000	365 000	328 500
ES/13/54	33 900	0	0
ES/13/55	50 000	0	0
ES/13/56	16 000	16 000	14 400
ES/13/57	72 000	0	0
Sub-Total	1 709 622	381 000	342 900
France:
FR/13/14	498 798	498 798	250 000
FR/13/15	711 700	711 700	250 000
FR/13/16	276 000	0	0
FR/13/17	115 647	115 647	104 082
FR/13/18	176 440	0	0
Sub-total	1 778 585	1 326 145	604 082
Croatia:
HR/13/08	10 000	10 000	9 000
HR/13/10	247 490	247 490	209 400
Sub-Total	257 490	257 490	218 400
Italy:
IT/13/10	450 000	422 000	379 800
IT/13/11	1 400 000	0	0
Sub-Total	1 850 000	422 000	379 800
Latvia:
LV/13/04	124 038	124 038	111 634
Sub-Total	124 038	124 038	111 634
Lithuania:
LT/13/06	15 929	15 929	14 336
LT/13/05	26 066	26 066	23 459
Sub-Total	41 995	41 995	37 795
Malta:
MT/13/04	55 510	0	0
MT/13/05	1 400 000	600 000	540 000
MT/13/06	15 000	15 000	13 500
Sub-Total	1 470 510	615 000	553 500
Poland:
PL/13/16	250 000	152 000	136 800
PL/13/17	147 512	147 512	132 761
PL/13/18	240 300	240 300	216 270
Sub-Total	637 812	539 812	485 831
Portugal:
PT/13/06	129 200	111 100	99 990
PT/13/08	5 500	5 500	2 750
PT/13/09	264 354	0	0
Sub-Total	399 054	116 600	102 740
Romania:
RO/13/18	40 000	0	0
Sub-Total	40 000	0	0
Finland:
FI/13/11	350 000	350 000	315 000
FI/13/14	150 000	150 000	135 000
FI/13/15	750 000	0	0
Sub-Total	1 250 000	500 000	450 000
Sweden:
SE/13/04	500 000	0	0
SE/13/05	350 000	0	0
SE/13/06	450 000	0	0
SE/13/07	450 000	450 000	405 000
SE/13/08	200 000	200 000	180 000
Sub-Total	1 950 000	650 000	585 000
United Kingdom:
UK/13/05	9 933	9 933	8 940
UK/13/06	1 753	1 753	1 578
UK/13/07	5 843	0	0
Sub-Total	17 529	11 686	10 518
Total	15 700 707	6 215 929	4 711 339

ANNEX II

AUTOMATIC LOCALISATION DEVICES

(EUR)
Member State and project code	Expenditure planned in the national fisheries control additional programme	Expenditure for projects selected under this Decision	Maximum Union contribution
France:
FR/13/12	250 000	0	0
Sub-Total	250 000	0	0
UK:
UK/13/04	14 024	14 024	12 622
Sub-Total	14 024	14 024	12 622
Total	264 024	14 024	12 622

ANNEX III

ELECTRONIC RECORDING AND REPORTING SYSTEMS

(EUR)
Member State and project code	Expenditure planned in the national fisheries control additional programme	Expenditure for projects selected under this Decision	Maximum Union contribution
Belgium:
BE/13/10	40 000	40 000	36 000
BE/13/11	200 000	200 000	180 000
BE/13/12	40 000	40 000	36 000
Sub-Total	280 000	280 000	252 000
Denmark:
DK/13/22	335 363	335 363	301 827
Sub-Total	335 363	335 363	301 827
Estonia:
EE/13/04	300 000	300 000	270 000
EE/13/05	100 000	100 000	90 000
Sub-Total	400 000	400 000	360 000
Spain:
ES/13/43	246 300	246 300	221 670
Sub-Total	246 300	246 300	221 670
France:
FR/13/13	30 000	30 000	27 000
Sub-Total	30 000	30 000	27 000
Croatia:
HR/13/09	10 000	10 000	9 000
Sub-Total	10 000	10 000	9 000
Cyprus:
CY/13/04	100 000	100 000	90 000
Sub-Total	100 000	100 000	90 000
Lithuania:
LT/13/04	57 924	57 924	52 132
Sub-Total	57 924	57 924	52 132
Poland:
PL/13/14	350 000	350 000	315 000
PL/13/15	100 000	100 000	90 000
Sub-Total	450 000	450 000	405 000
Portugal:
PT/13/07	44 900	44 900	40 410
Sub-Total	44 900	44 900	40 410
Finland:
FI/13/10	350 000	350 000	315 000
FI/13/12	200 000	200 000	180 000
Sub-Total	550 000	550 000	495 000
Sweden:
SE/13/09	500 000	500 000	450 000
Sub-Total	500 000	500 000	450 000
Total	3 004 487	3 004 487	2 704 039

ANNEX V

PILOT PROJECTS

(EUR)
Type of expenditure	Expenditure planned in the national fisheries control additional programme	Expenditure for projects selected under this Decision	Maximum Union contribution
Belgium:
BE/13/13	150 000	0	0
Sub-Total	150 000	0	0
Spain:
ES/13/44	471 074	0	0
ES/13/46	250 000	250 000	125 000
ES/13/48	160 000	160 000	80 000
ES/13/49	100 000	0	0
ES/13/51	2 000	0	0
Sub-Total	983 074	410 000	205 000
Poland:
PL/13/13	400 000	400 000	200 000
Sub-Total	400 000	400 000	200 000
Total	1 533 074	810 000	405 000

ANNEX VI

AMOUNTS RELATED TO TRAINING AND EXCHANGE PROGRAMMES AND TO INITIATIVES RAISING AWARENESS OF CFP RULES THAT WERE REJECTED

(EUR)
Member State and project code	Expenditure planned in the national fisheries control additional programme	Expenditure for projects selected under this Decision	Maximum Union contribution
Greece:
EL/13/12	150 000	0	0
Sub-Total	150 000	0	0
Spain:
ES/13/47	40 000	0	0
ES/13/52	8 082	0	0
ES/13/53	2 800	0	0
Sub-Total	50 882	0	0
Total	200 882	0	0