Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Decision 2004/465/EC of 29 April 2004 on a Community financial contribution towards Member States fisheries control programmes^f1, and in particular Article 6(1) thereof,

Whereas:

Member States have forwarded to the Commission their fisheries control programmes for the period from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2004 together with the applications for Community financial contribution towards the expenditure to be incurred in carrying out such programmes.

Applications concerning actions listed in Decision 2004/465/EC may qualify for Community funding. Having regard in particular to Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 of 20 December 2002 on the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources under the Common Fisheries Policy^f2, priority is to be given to the extension of the satellite-based monitoring system to vessels of more than 15 metres overall between perpendiculars, pilot projects relating to and implementation of new technologies on the control of fisheries activities, training and exchange of civil servants responsible for monitoring, control and surveillance tasks in the fisheries area.

It is appropriate to fix the maximum amounts of Community contribution towards eligible expenditure for 2004 for each Member State aid granted for the purchase and fitting on board of electronic localisation devices enabling vessels to be monitored at a distance by fisheries monitoring centres through a vessel monitoring system.

It is appropriate to lay down the Community contribution rate for such actions and the conditions on which national expenditure is to be reimbursed by the Community.

The electronic localisation devices should satisfy requirements fixed by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2244/2003 of 18 December 2003 laying down detailed provisions regarding satellite-based Vessel Monitoring Systems^f3.

Member States must in accordance with Article 8 of Decision 2004/465/EC commit their expenditure within a period of 12 months from the end of the year in which this Decision is notified to them. They must also comply with the provision of that Decision as regards starting their projects and submitting applications for reimbursement.

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: