Introductory text

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

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

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 847/96 of 6 May 1996 introducing additional conditions for year-to-year management of TACs and quotas^f1, and in particular Article 4(2) thereof,

Whereas:

According to Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 847/96, Member States may ask the Commission, before 31 October, in the year of application of a fishing quota, to withhold a maximum of 10 % of that quota to be transferred to the following year. The Commission shall add to the relevant quota the quantity withheld.

Council Regulation (EC) No 1359/2008 of 28 November 2008 fixing for 2009 and 2010 the fishing opportunities for Community fishing vessels for certain deep-sea fish stocks^f2, Council Regulation (EC) No 1322/2008 of 28 November 2008 fixing the fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in the Baltic Sea for 2009^f3, Council Regulation (EC) No 1139/2008 of 10 November 2008 fixing the fishing opportunities and the conditions relating thereto for certain fish stocks applicable in the Black Sea for 2009^f4 and Council Regulation (EC) No 43/2009 of 16 January 2009 fixing for 2009 the fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Community waters and, for Community vessels, in waters where catch limitations are required^f5, fix quotas for certain stocks for 2009 and specify which stocks may be subject to the measures provided for in Regulation (EC) No 847/96.

Regulation (EC) No 1359/2008, Council Regulation (EC) No 1226/2009 of 20 November 2009 fixing the fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in the Baltic Sea for 2010^f6, Council Regulation (EC) No 1287/2009 of 27 November 2009 fixing the fishing opportunities and the conditions relating thereto for certain fish stocks applicable in the Black Sea for 2010^f7 and Council Regulation (EU) No 53/2010 of 14 January 2010 fixing for 2010 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in EU waters and, for EU vessels, in waters where catch limitations are required^f8, fix quotas for certain stocks for 2010.

Certain Member States have requested, before 31 October of 2009, pursuant to Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 847/96, that part of their quotas for 2009 be withheld and transferred to the following year. Within the limits indicated in that Regulation, the quantities withheld should be added to the quota for 2010.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: