Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard 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^f1, and in particular Article 15(3) and (4) thereof,

Whereas:

Commission Regulation (EC) No 26/2004 of 30 December 2003 on the Community fishing fleet register^f2 fixes, inter alia, the dates of fleet census, the codes for fishing gear and the codes for public aid.

It is necessary to fix the dates of the census for the new Member States that will accede to the European Union so they can comply with the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 26/2004.

In order to better identify those vessels that carry out artisanal or small-scale fishing activities, it is necessary to introduce a more precise distinction among fishing gears.

In order to monitor the application of Article 25(3) and (4) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1198/2006 of 27 July 2006 on the European Fisheries Fund^f3 it is necessary to introduce new codes for communicating the replacement of engines with public aid.

Regulation (EC) No 26/2004 should therefore be amended accordingly.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: