Brussels, 06/04/2005 (Agence Europe) - As previously announced (EUROPE 8921), the European Commission adopted a proposal on Wednesday by Commissioner Joe Borg on planned financial assistance for implementing the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) for 2007-13. This proposal plans on a budget of EUR 2.6 billion for the whole period of the next financial perspectives and will enable the proposal presented in July 2004 on the new European Fund for fisheries to be completed. Intervention planned for CFP implementation involves the following areas: control and enforcement; conservation measures; data collection and improvement in scientific recommendations; governance and international relations and rights at sea.
Control and enforcement: (EUR 472.5 million): funding is essentially for the new Member States (current ones and those joining) to help them in investments into heavy equipment (vessels and aircraft). This investment will be necessary for these countries if they are to meet CFP requirements. The next enlargement will enable Bulgaria and Romania extend application of the CFP zone to the Black Sea. The Commission believes that it will also be necessary for equipment currently in service to be modernised in other Member States and to integrate new technologies in this area for control purposes. Funding is also planned of EUR 35 million for the Fisheries Monitoring Centres, which the Council of the EU has just agreed to set up (EUROPE 8908). Fishing control activities targeting migratory stock (notably in the Mediterranean) and the obligations on the EU within the context of regional fishing organisations' demands for reinforcing heavy equipment in Member States. In order to fund these measures, the Commission is planning to gradually increase Community aid to Member States from EUR 35 million in 2006 to 40 million by 2013.
The Commission intends to gradually increase the EU budget for implementation (from EUR 2 million in 2007 to 5 million in 2013), together with the Common Research Centre (CRC) and arrangements concerning technological developments and follow-up. Stock conservation requires improvement in control technologies and the use of satellite images in addition to the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS). Mechanisms will also need developing for identifying and controlling the location of fish catches.
Inspections: no extension is planned for the budget (EUR 5 million a year) even though implementation of the European Control Agency will mean the Commission introducing changes to its inspectors' agency. This will mean investing in the training of Commission inspectors and in the agency's communication networks. In order for the agency to be fully up and running, it will need all the installations necessary for long distance monitoring, which will enable it to analyse information on long distance fisheries activities. High amounts of spending in the field of telecommunications and satellite imaging will therefore be necessary.
Data collection and scientific recommendations: (EUR 483 million): an increase in the budget can be explained by the expected integration of two new Member States in 2007 (and other, perhaps before the end of 2013), as well as by the need to strengthen the current data collection programmes (additional of environmental data for better calculation of the effect of fishing on the marine ecosystem). CFP reform requires a mixed fisheries approach rather than a stock by stock approach. This results in an increase in demands for recommendations on fishing.
Governance: (EUR 31.5 million): involvement of professionals at all stages of the CFP process is one of the demands included in CFP reform. The Commission is therefore planning on funding for information for sector actors. The Commission is planning on funding mechanisms for financing Regional Advisory Councils (EUROPE 8711).
International relations: (EUR 1.6 billion, including 1.5 billion for fishing agreements with third countries): the Commission explains that negotiations are being carried out in view of concluding new partnership agreements in the fisheries sector (such as in Morocco). The role of international organisations in sustainable management of fisheries resources is assuming increasing importance, which will require further obligatory and non-obligatory contributions from the EU.