Please see 2003/0238(CNS)

PURPOSE: to establish Regional Advisory Councils under the Common Fisheries Policy.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2007/409/EC amending Decision 2004/585/EC establishing Regional Advisory Councils under the Common Fisheries Policy.

CONTENT: the Council adopted a Decision amending Decision 2004/585/EC establishing Regional Advisory Councils under the Common Fisheries Policy.

Regional Advisory Councils offer advice on the Common Fisheries Policy to the Commission and Member States and ensure effective involvement of stakeholders which is one of the essential pillars of the reformed Common Fisheries Policy and a prerequisite of good governance.

Consequently, the Council has amended the Decision 2004/585/EC as follows:

- a Regional Advisory Council which has acquired legal personality may apply for Community financial aid as a body pursuing an aim of general European interest within the meaning of Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities;

- the Commission shall sign a grant agreement with each Regional Advisory Council to cover their operational costs, including translation and interpretation costs;

- the Commission may carry out all verifications it considers necessary to ensure compliance with the tasks assigned by Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 and this Decision to the Regional Advisory Councils.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 22 June 2007.

The European Parliament adopted the resolution drafted by Elspeth ATTWOOLL (ALDE, UK) and approved the proposed decision amending Decision 2004/585/EC establishing Regional Advisory Councils under the Common Fisheries Policy.

The committee adopted the report by Elspeth ATTWOOLL (ALDE, UK) approving unamended – under the consultation procedure – the proposed decision amending Decision 2004/585/EC establishing Regional Advisory Councils under the Common Fisheries Policy.

PURPOSE: to amend Decision 2004/585/EC establishing Regional Advisory Councils under the Common Fisheries Policy.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

CONTENT: the Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) were established as a result of the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), adopted in 2002. Council Decision 2004/585/EC defines a general framework for the functioning of the Regional Advisory Councils to ensure a consistent and balanced approach amongst them. The possibility of granting Community financial aid to RACs is one of the aspects included in this Decision.

Taking into account that RACs have been created by Council Regulation 2371/2002 and that the experience of the RACs proves that these new bodies are contributing positively to the development of the CFP (since their establishment, the Commission has received more than forty recommendations from RACs), they should be considered as bodies pursuing an aim of general European interest in the meaning of Article 162(b) of Commission Regulation 2342/2002/EC, Euratom laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation 1605/2002/EC, Euratom on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

Furthermore, experience has shown that the existing Regional Advisory Councils have difficulties with the current decreasing financial framework which will seriously hinder their ability to meet their objectives in the near future. Defining RACs as bodies pursuing an aim of European general interest would provide them with a stable financial framework enhancing their capacity to operate effectively. The new financial modalities will also simplify the management of the grants by merging the current two grants into a single grant for each Regional Advisory Council.

For more information concerning the financial implications of this proposal, please refer to the financial statement.

PURPOSE: to amend Decision 2004/585/EC establishing Regional Advisory Councils under the Common Fisheries Policy.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

CONTENT: the Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) were established as a result of the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), adopted in 2002. Council Decision 2004/585/EC defines a general framework for the functioning of the Regional Advisory Councils to ensure a consistent and balanced approach amongst them. The possibility of granting Community financial aid to RACs is one of the aspects included in this Decision.

Taking into account that RACs have been created by Council Regulation 2371/2002 and that the experience of the RACs proves that these new bodies are contributing positively to the development of the CFP (since their establishment, the Commission has received more than forty recommendations from RACs), they should be considered as bodies pursuing an aim of general European interest in the meaning of Article 162(b) of Commission Regulation 2342/2002/EC, Euratom laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation 1605/2002/EC, Euratom on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

Furthermore, experience has shown that the existing Regional Advisory Councils have difficulties with the current decreasing financial framework which will seriously hinder their ability to meet their objectives in the near future. Defining RACs as bodies pursuing an aim of European general interest would provide them with a stable financial framework enhancing their capacity to operate effectively. The new financial modalities will also simplify the management of the grants by merging the current two grants into a single grant for each Regional Advisory Council.

For more information concerning the financial implications of this proposal, please refer to the financial statement.