COUNCIL RESOLUTION of 25 January 1983 on measures to adjust capacity and to improve productivity in the fisheries sector

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

HEREBY ADOPTS THIS RESOLUTION:

The Council agrees to put into effect within six months specific Community measures to adjust capacity and to improve productivity in the sector, to supplement its decisions on the conservation and management of resources in the fisheries sector. 1. Adjustment of capacity (a) Temporary reduction of capacity

Member States may introduce financial aid for the temporary laying-up of vessels over 18 m in length, commissioned after 1 January 1966, which have fished for at least 120 days of the previous year. The amount of this aid, granted for laying-up periods which exceed the average laying-up period of the previous three years and which are of at least 45 consecutive days (or non-consecutive in the case of recognized producers' organizations which establish plans for laying-up), may not exceed 12 % of the purchase cost or insured value of the vessels concerned. The aid shall take the form of a daily laying-up premium, calculated on the basis of an average fishing year of 250 days. The Community financial contribution shall be limited to 50 % of the premium granted.

The Commission will view favourably any draft national aid notified in accordance with Article 93 (3) of the Treaty assisting vessels of less than 18 m by temporary laying-up measures similar to those provided for in the Community measure for vessels of over that length.

Community expenditure : 44 million ECU over three years.

(b) Permanent reduction of capacity

Member States may introduce financial aid for the permanent withdrawal of vessels over 12 m in length.

The permanent withdrawal premium shall be granted only for vessels which have fished for at least 100 days of the previous year.

The Community financial contribution shall be limited to 50 % of the eligible expenditure, the maximum amount of which shall be fixed at 650 ECU per gross register ton (grt).

Community expenditure : 32 million ECU over three years.

2. Redeployment of capacity (a) Exploratory fishing

Community financial contribution to measures introduced by the Member States to encourage voyages of not less than 30 days by vessels of over 24 m in length. The Community contribution shall be limited to 50 % of the premium granted by the Member States, which may not exceed eligible expenditure, that is to say, the forecast deficit of the voyage.

Community expenditure : 11 million ECU over three years.

(b) Cooperation through joint ventures

Community financial contribution to cooperation premiums granted by the Member States to owners who participate temporarily or permanently in undertakings set up with physical or legal persons of a country of the Mediterranean basin or of the west coast of Africa with a view to the joint exploitation of the fisheries resources of that country. The amount of the eligible expenditure shall be limited to: - 25 ECU per gross register ton per period of three consecutive months for temporary vessel transfers,

- 400 ECU per gross register ton for the first 300 tons, and 200 ECU per gross register ton for each additional ton, for permanent vessel transfers.

The Community contribution may not exceed 50 % of eligible expenditure.

Community expenditure : seven million ECU over three years.

3. Common measure for restructuring, modernizing and developing the fishing industry and for developing aquaculture (a) Construction and modernization of vessels

Granting by the Community of financial aid towards projects for the modernization or building of fishing vessels between 12 and 33 m in length between perpendiculars, which are part of multiannual guidance programmes for fishing fleets to be drawn up by the Member States and approved by the Commission.

The aid is intended in the first place for bringing modernized or new vessels into service to replace old or for vessels based in coastal areas where fishing is traditionally an important economic activity, in particular in the regions referred to in Annex VII to the Hague Resolution.

Community expenditure : 118 million ECU over three years.

(b) Development of aquaculture

Granting by the Community of financial aid towards projects to build, equip and modernize aquaculture installations. Priority to be given to pilot projects.

Community expenditure : 34 million ECU over three years.

For measures under (a) and (b), the Community financial aid may not exceed 25 % of the investment, except for projects in Greenland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Italy in the Mezzogiorno, Greece (1) and the French overseas departments, where it may be up to 50 %. The Member State's contribution shall be at least 5 % of the amount of investment.

(c) Artificial structures intended for restocking

This measure, which shall be limited to the Mediterranean within a three-mile coastal zone, concerns the creation of artificial structures to rebuild stocks in that zone. The Community financial contribution may be up to 50 % of the amount of investment and the national contribution shall be at least 5 % of the total amount.

Community expenditure : four million ECU over three years.

4. Research

The Council is aware of the usefulness of a coordinated development of research in order to achieve the full realization of the objectives of the common fisheries policy. With this in mind and in line with the orientations of common policy in the field of science and technology, the Council will re-examine, as soon as possible, the proposal for a Regulation concerning the coordination and promotion of research in the fishery sector, already submitted by the Commission, with the aim of taking the appropriate measures. (1) In the absence of a definitive decision concerning Greek priority regions within the framework of the Community financial interventions, the benefit of the higher rate of aid under this measure shall be granted provisionally to the entire territory of Greece, without prejudice to decisions which may be adopted in the future on this matter.

ANNEX Summary of financial estimates

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