Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2009)6 - Annual report on implementation of the european fisheries fund (2007) - Main contents
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| dossier | COM(2009)6 - Annual report on implementation of the european fisheries fund (2007). |
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| source | COM(2009)6  |
| date | 16-01-2009 |
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52009DC0006
Report from the Commission - Annual report on implementation of the european fisheries fund (2007) /* COM/2009/0006 final */
[afbeelding - zie origineel document] COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
Contents
- Brussels, 16.1.2009
- 1. INTRODUCTION
- 2. BACKGROUND
- 3. THE MAJOR EVENTS IN 2007 IN THE CONTEXT OF THE NEW PROGRAMMING PERIOD 2007-2013
- 3.1. Adoption of Commission Regulation 498/2007
- 4. ANALYSIS OF IMPLEMENTATION
- 4.1. Programme implementation
- 4.2. Financial implementation
- 4.3. Budget Implementation
- 5. USE OF THE COMMISSION'S TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
- 5.1. Implementation of Commission's Technical Assistance
- 5.1.1. Conferences
- 5.1.2. Studies
- 5.1.3. Communication and publications
- 5.1.4. Information technology
- 5.1.5. Non-permanent staff
- 6. EUROPEAN FISHERIES FUND COMMITTEE
- 7. CONSISTENCY AND COORDINATION
- 8. ANNEXES
- Annex II : Financial execution non Convergence objective
- Annex III : Financial execution Convergence and non Convergence objective
- Annex IV
- DK Danmark 133.675. 17/12/ C(2007)
- Annex V
COM(2009) 6 final
REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION
ANNUAL REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EUROPEAN FISHERIES FUND (2007)
REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION
ANNUAL REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EUROPEAN FISHERIES FUND (2007)
On 1 January 2007 the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) i, which covers the period 2007-2013, replaced the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) i. The reporting on the implementation of the FIFG for the period 2000-2006 was included in the annual reports on the implementation of the Structural Funds.
In the new programming period, the EFF – unlike its predecessor, the FIFG – is no longer part of the Structural Funds, as it is included in a different heading under the financial framework. Thus there is a separate reporting mechanism for the EFF starting from 2007. This report has been compiled in accordance with Article 68 of Regulation (EC) No 1198/2006 on the EFF and covers the actual implementation of the EFF in 2007.
In addition, the first chapter of the report looks at the major events of 2007, in particular the adoption of the Implementing regulation and the guidelines for the implementation of EFF assistance, as well as the adoption of the National Strategic Plans (NSPs) and the Operational Programmes (OP).
The EFF programming process has been rationalised and simplified compared to the FIFG, notably by streamlining the procedures for presenting the programming documents.
The Community Support Frameworks and the Single Programming Documents, which had to be drawn up under the FIFG in the 2000-2006 period, no longer exist in the current programming period. Under the EFF, the OP is now the only programming and management document comprising also strategic elements. Each Member State has to present one single OP, covering both the Convergence and the Non Convergence regions.
The OP must be coherent with the national strategy pursued by Member States in relation to managing the various aspects of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). This national strategy is now set out in the NSP. Under the EFF, the Member State adopts the NSP, following an appropriate consultation of the partners, and presents it to the Commission at the latest when submitting the OP, in accordance with Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1198/2006. The OP is designed to implement the policies and priorities to be co-financed by the EFF. It is drawn up in close collaboration with the regional, local, economic and social partners in the fisheries sector and with all other relevant bodies. The Member State submits its proposal for the OP to the Commission. The Commission adopts a decision approving the OP if the OP respects all criteria described in the regulation.
On 26 March 2007 the European Commission adopted Regulation (EC) No 498/2007, laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1198/2006 on the European Fisheries Fund. The purpose of this Commission Regulation is to set out in detail how Member States should implement the EFF in line with the priorities laid down in the basic regulation. The implementing regulation lays down the detailed procedures to be followed by the Member States in drawing up and implementing their OPs. These rules complete the legal framework of the EFF Regulation.
3.2. Adoption of EFF Vademecum (C(2007)/3812).
In addition, the Commission adopted on 29 August 2007 guidelines providing advice on the implementation of the 2007-2013 programming period (EFF Vademecum C(2007)/3812). The Vademecum brings together different parts of the legal texts in a structured way to provide operational advice on the implementation of different provisions of these texts. These guidelines do not replace the basic legal texts. They have been prepared as a guide to facilitate the reading and understanding of the legal requirements and to help Member States and Commission services to implement the Regulations consistently.
In 2007 23 Member States adopted their NSP and submitted it to the Commission. The NSPs were subject to an extensive bilateral dialogue between the Member States and the Commission.
Following thorough negotiations with the Member States on the OPs, the Commission adopted 19 out of 26 OPs in the third trimester of 2007, the majority in December 2007 (see table in annex IV). The Commission was unable to adopt the seven remaining OPs since they were either submitted too late or not submitted at all by the Member States in question. The remaining OPs will be adopted in 2008.
The table in annex IV shows the OPs which were adopted in 2007 and indicates the date of adoption. The table in annex V (EFF breakdown by priority axis and by Member State) shows the total EFF amount allocated to each Member States for the programming period 2007-2013, as well as the breakdown between priority axes i per Member State and in total.
In total the 19 Member States whose OPs were adopted in 2007 allocated the following shares to the different priority axes: the highest percentage was allocated to axis 2 (32%), followed by axis 3 (28.2%), axis 1 (26.9%), axis 4 (9.5%) and axis 5 (3.4%).
The countries which allocated the highest shares of their EFF allocation to axis 1 (fleet measures) were Italy (38%), Greece (37.2%), Spain (35.6%), the Netherlands (34.8%) and France (27.6%). Austria and Slovakia were the landlocked countries with by far the highest percentages allocated to axis 2 (89.2% and 76.5%), followed by Romania (45.5%), Bulgaria (45%) and the Czech Republic (44%). The highest allocations to measures of common interest under axis 3 can be found in Cyprus (65.5%), the Czech Republic (51%), Germany (44.1%) and France (39.4%). Regarding axis 4, the sustainable development of fisheries areas, Romania (32.5%), Latvia (23.1%), Estonia (22.8%) and Greece (16%) are in the lead.
As mentioned above, due to the late adoption of the OPs, none of the Member States authorised any expenditure linked to projects in 2007 and none of the Member States used its technical assistance funds in 2007. No expenditure was made and therefore nothing can be reported on the financial implementation of the operational programmes.
In 2007, 9.93% of the appropriations for 2007-2013 were committed and 5.31% paid. This was below the initial planning expectations, and is due to the delays in the adoption of seven OPs. In 2008 execution is likely to speed up substantially since all outstanding OPs will have been adopted and the real implementation of OPs will start in that year.
The implementation of the 2007 budget was satisfactory both for the Convergence and the Non-Convergence objectives. 75.4% (72.42% for the Convergence and 84.43% for the Non-Convergence objective) of the resources available were committed, which corresponds to a 100% execution in relation to the 19 OPs adopted.
Concerning payment appropriations for the year 2007, 81.1% (76.18% for the Convergence and 98.45% for Non-Convergence objective) of the resources were used. Once again, the amounts not used had originally been foreseen to pay the pre-financing advance of the seven non adopted OPs.
Annex I shows the financial execution for the Convergence objective.
Annex II shows the financial execution for the non-Convergence objective.
Annex III shows the total financial execution of both the Convergence and non-Convergence objective.
4.4. Commitment appropriations carried over from 2007 to subsequent years:
Since seven OPs could not be adopted in 2007, the Commission proposed on 14 March 2008 to transfer the allocations not used in 2007 to subsequent years. This proposal was authorised by the European Parliament and the Council by Decision 2008/371/EC i. The amount in question totals EUR 117 258 873 for the Convergence objective and EUR 22 032 789 for the non-Convergence objective.
Article 46 i of the EFF Regulation states that at the initiative of and/or on behalf of the Commission, subject to a ceiling of 0.8 % of its annual allocation, the EFF may finance the preparatory, monitoring, administrative and technical support, evaluation and audit measures necessary for implementing this Regulation.
In accordance with Article 46 i of the EFF Regulation, DG MARE requests the opinion of the European Fisheries Fund Committee (comprising representatives of the Member States) on the forecasts of the use of its technical assistance budget. DG MARE consulted the EFF Committee on the proposed spending of the technical assistance in the period 2007 to 2009 on 25 June 2007. The EFF Committee gave its favourable opinion on 11 July 2007.
In 2007 the Commission used the EFF technical assistance at its disposal for the following purposes:
1. A conference on "EFF, Inland Fishing, and Aquaculture Production Methods Enhancing the Environment i" was held on 27-29 June 2007 in Bucharest, Romania. The objective of the conference was to discuss new EFF measures for inland fisheries, EFF aqua-environmental measures and the role of aquaculture as a means of maintaining the biodiversity of wetlands. The amount committed for this event was EUR 161 696.
2. As part of the preparation for a review of the 2002 Community Strategy for Sustainable Development of Aquaculture i (COM(2002)511) and following on from a large consultation process, DG MARE organised a conference on 'European Aquaculture and its Opportunities for Development' on 15-16 November 2007 in Brussels. The amount committed for the event was EUR 138 903.
3. The Commission commissioned a study on the 'Image survey on the fisheries and aquaculture sector'. The objective of the study was to understand the consumers' perception of fisheries and of fisheries and aquaculture products and to identify communications levers to improve it. The amount committed for the study was EUR 249 100.
4. The Commission also commissioned a study on the 'Community intervention in the area of inland fishing'. The objective of the study is to define inland fishing, to evaluate its socio-economic importance and identify appropriate actions which should benefit from EFF support. The amount committed for this study is EUR 249 829.
The Commission contracted a service provider to update the DG MARE webpages on the EFF and to produce several publications on the EFF and other products for communication purposes. The amount committed for these services was EUR251 555.2.
The Commission committed amounts for the development and the maintenance of applications for managing the EFF and the FIFG, as well as informatics material. The amount committed for these services was EUR 312 350.
In 2007 the EUR 350 000 were committed for the salaries of non-permanent staff.
Two meetings on the European Fisheries Fund Committee were held in 2007. During the committee meeting on 23 April 2007 the Member States were informed on the following issues: the procedures and state of play for the NSPs and the OPs, the structure and the main elements of the EFF Vademecum, the demarcation lines between the EFF and other Funds and the role and tasks of the 'Support Unit for the European Fisheries Areas Network (FAR-NET)'.
The EFF Committee was also informed that a favourable opinion had been given on 6 April 2007 on the working papers on ex ante evaluation for the EFF and on indicators for monitoring and evaluation. In addition the Commission informed the committee on the need for a corrigendum of the implementing regulation, the procedure for the first forecast of likely payment applications in 2007 and the state of play for the new state aid rules for fisheries.
During the committee meeting on 24 September 2007 the Commission submitted to the committee the following issues: the procedures and state of play for the NSPs and the OPs and a note of the Commission services regarding eligible expenditure in the 2007-2013 programming period.
In addition the Commission presented the guidance note on the Compliance Assessment exercise, the model Report and the checklist for the Compliance Assessment of Member States’ management and control systems for the EFF. Member States were also informed about the state of play of SFC2007 and reminded of their obligations. The Commission presented Commission Regulation (EC) No 875/2007 and informed the Member States about the state of play of the procedure for the adoption of the new block exemption Regulation and the new guidelines for the examination of state aid to fisheries and aquaculture.
In accordance with Article 6 of the EFF the Commission has ensured coordination and consistency between assistance from the EFF and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund and other Community financial instruments by making sure that Member States clearly define demarcation lines for support under the different funds in the OP and set up appropriate coordination mechanisms between the authorities responsible for the implementation of these funds.
Annex I : Financial execution Convergence objective
Country EFF budget allocation a Committed by COM b Paid by COM c % (b) / (a) % (c) / (a)
Belgique-Belgïe Period 2007- 0, 0, 0, 0,00% 0,00%
Financial year: 0, 0, 0,
Bulgaria Period 2007- 80 009 708, 5 818 765, 5 600 679, 7,27% 7,00%
Financial year: 5 818 765, 5 818 765, 5 600 679,
Česká Republika Period 2007- 27 106 675, 3 360 014, 1 897 467, 12,40% 7,00%
Financial year: 3 360 014, 3 360 014, 1 897 467,
Deutschland Period 2007- 96 861 240, 13 802 007, 6 780 286, 14,25% 7,00%
Financial year: 13 802 007, 13 802 007, 6 780 286,
Eesti Period 2007- 84 568 039, 9 130 309, 5 919 762, 10,80% 7,00%
Financial year: 9 130 309, 9 130 309, 5 919 762,
Ellas Period 2007- 176 836 728, 26 091 444, 12 378 570, 14,75% 7,00%
Financial year: 26 091 444, 26 091 444, 12 378 570,
España Period 2007- 945 692 445, 133 846 204, 66 198 471, 14,15% 7,00%
Financial year: 133 846 204, 133 846 204, 66 198 471,
France Period 2007- 34 250 343, 4 607 081, 2 397 524, 13,45% 7,00%
Financial year: 4 607 081, 4 607 081, 2 397 524,
Italia Period 2007- 318 281 864, 43 317 946, 22 279 730, 13,61% 7,00%
Financial year: 43 317 946, 43 317 946, 22 279 730,
Latvia Period 2007- 125 015 563, 13 597 544, 8 751 089, 10,88% 7,00%
Financial year: 13 597 544, 13 597 544, 8 751 089,
Lietuva Period 2007- 54 713 408, 6 937 316, 3 829 938, 12,68% 7,00%
Financial year: 6 937 316, 6 937 316, 3 829 938,
Magyarország Period 2007- 34 291 357, 0, 0, 0,00% 0,00%
Financial year: 0, 0, 0,
Malta Period 2007- 8 372 329, 0, 0, 0,00% 0,00%
Financial year: 0, 0, 0,
Österreich Period 2007- 187 326, 31 203, 13 112, 16,66% 7,00%
Financial year: 31 203, 31 203, 13 112,
Polska Period 2007- 734 092 574, 0, 0, 0,00% 0,00%
Financial year: 0, 0, 0,
Portugal Period 2007- 223 943 059, 30 519 983, 15 676 014, 13,63% 7,00%
Financial year: 30 519 983, 30 519 983, 15 676 014,
România Period 2007- 230 714 207, 15 127 527, 15 127 527, 6,56% 6,56%
Financial year: 15 127 527, 15 127 527, 15 127 527,
Slovenija Period 2007- 21 640 283, 0, 0, 0,00% 0,00%
Financial year: 0, 0, 0,
Slovensko Period 2007- 12 681 459, 1 849 383, 887 702, 14,58% 7,00%
Financial year: 1 849 383, 1 849 383, 887 702,
United Kingdom Period 2007- 43 150 701, 0, 0, 0,00% 0,00%
Financial year: 0, 0, 0,
Total Period 2007- 3 252 409 308, 308 036 726, 167 737 875, 9,47% 5,16%
Financial year: 308 036 726, 308 036 726, 167 737 875,
Country EFF budget allocation a Committed by COM b Paid by COM c % (b) / (a) % (c) / (a)
Belgique-Belgïe Period 2007- 26 261 648, 0, 0, 0,00% 0,00%
Financial year: 0, 0, 0,
Danmark Period 2007- 133 675 169, 17 980 908, 9 357 261, 13,45% 7,00%
Financial year: 17 980 908, 17 980 908, 9 357 261,
Deutschland Period 2007- 59 004 177, 7 936 768, 4 130 292, 13,45% 7,00%
Financial year: 7 936 768, 7 936 768, 4 130 292,
Ireland Period 2007- 42 266 603, 0, 0, 0,00% 0,00%
Financial year: 0, 0, 0,
Ellas Period 2007- 30 995 509, 4 169 266, 2 169 685, 13,45% 7,00%
Financial year: 4 169 266, 4 169 266, 2 169 685,
España Period 2007- 186 198 467, 25 045 920, 13 033 892, 13,45% 7,00%
Financial year: 25 045 920, 25 045 920, 13 033 892,
France Period 2007- 181 802 741, 24 454 642, 12 726 191, 13,45% 7,00%
Financial year: 24 454 642, 24 454 642, 12 726 191,
Italia Period 2007- 106 060 990, 14 266 471, 7 424 269, 13,45% 7,00%
Financial year: 14 266 471, 14 266 471, 7 424 269,
Cyprus Period 2007- 19 724 418, 2 653 171, 0, 13,45% 0,00%
Financial year: 2 653 171, 2 653 171, 0,
Magyarország Period 2007- 559 503, 0, 0, 0,00% 0,00%
Financial year: 0, 0, 0,
Nederland Period 2007- 48 578 417, 6 534 378, 3 400 489, 13,45% 7,00%
Financial year: 6 534 378, 6 534 378, 3 400 489,
Österreich Period 2007- 5 071 992, 682 243, 355 039, 13,45% 7,00%
Financial year: 682 243, 682 243, 355 039,
Portugal Period 2007- 22 542 190, 3 032 194, 1 577 953, 13,45% 7,00%
Financial year: 3 032 194, 3 032 194, 1 577 953,
Slovensko Period 2007- 1 007 069, 146 865, 70 494, 14,58% 7,00%
Financial year: 146 865, 146 865, 70 494,
Suomi-Finland Period 2007- 39 448 827, 5 306 338, 2 761 417, 13,45% 7,00%
Financial year: 5 306 338, 5 306 338, 2 761 417,
Sverige Period 2007- 54 664 803, 7 353 069, 3 826 536, 13,45% 7,00%
Financial year: 7 353 069, 7 353 069, 3 826 536,
United Kingdom Period 2007- 94 677 188, 0, 0, 0,00% 0,00%
Financial year: 0, 0, 0,
Total Period 2007- 1 052 539 711, 119 562 233, 60 833 522, 11,36% 5,78%
Financial year: 119 562 233, 119 562 233, 60 833 522,
Country EFF budget allocation a Committed by COM b Paid by COM c % (b) / (a) % (c) / (a)
Belgique-Belgïe Period 2007- 26 261 648, 0, 0, 0,00% 0,00%
Financial year: 0, 0, 0,
Bulgaria Period 2007- 80 009 708, 5 818 765, 5 600 679, 7,27% 7,00%
Financial year: 5 818 765, 5 818 765, 5 600 679,
Česká Republika Period 2007- 27 106 675, 3 360 014, 1 897 467, 12,40% 7,00%
Financial year: 3 360 014, 3 360 014, 1 897 467,
Danmark Period 2007- 133 675 169, 17 980 908, 9 357 261, 13,45% 7,00%
Financial year: 17 980 908, 17 980 908, 9 357 261,
Deutschland Period 2007- 155 865 417, 21 738 775, 10 910 579, 13,95% 7,00%
Financial year: 21 738 775, 21 738 775, 10 910 579,
Eesti Period 2007- 84 568 039, 9 130 309, 5 919 762, 10,80% 7,00%
Financial year: 9 130 309, 9 130 309, 5 919 762,
Ireland Period 2007- 42 266 603, 0, 0, 0,00% 0,00%
Financial year: 0, 0, 0,
Ellas Period 2007- 207 832 237, 30 260 710, 14 548 256, 14,56% 7,00%
Financial year: 30 260 710, 30 260 710, 14 548 256,
España Period 2007- 1 131 890 912, 158 892 124, 79 232 363, 14,04% 7,00%
Financial year: 158 892 124, 158 892 124, 79 232 363,
France Period 2007- 216 053 084, 29 061 723, 15 123 715, 13,45% 7,00%
Financial year: 29 061 723, 29 061 723, 15 123 715,
Italia Period 2007- 424 342 854, 57 584 417, 29 703 999, 13,57% 7,00%
Financial year: 57 584 417, 57 584 417, 29 703 999,
Cyprus Period 2007- 19 724 418, 2 653 171, 0, 13,45% 0,00%
Financial year: 2 653 171, 2 653 171, 0,
Latvia Period 2007- 125 015 563, 13 597 544, 8 751 089, 10,88% 7,00%
Financial year: 13 597 544, 13 597 544, 8 751 089,
Lietuva Period 2007- 54 713 408, 6 937 316, 3 829 938, 12,68% 7,00%
Financial year: 6 937 316, 6 937 316, 3 829 938,
Luxembourg Period 2007- 0, 0, 0, 0,00% 0,00%
Financial year: 0, 0, 0,
Magyarország Period 2007- 34 850 860, 0, 0, 0,00% 0,00%
Financial year: 0, 0, 0,
Malta Period 2007- 8 372 329, 0, 0, 0,00% 0,00%
Financial year: 0, 0, 0,
Nederland Period 2007- 48 578 417, 6 534 378, 3 400 489, 13,45% 7,00%
Financial year: 6 534 378, 6 534 378, 3 400 489,
Österreich Period 2007- 5 259 318, 713 446, 368 152, 13,57% 7,00%
Financial year: 713 446, 713 446, 368 152,
Polska Period 2007- 734 092 574, 0, 0, 0,00% 0,00%
Financial year: 0, 0, 0,
Portugal Period 2007- 246 485 249, 33 552 177, 17 253 967, 13,61% 7,00%
Financial year: 33 552 177, 33 552 177, 17 253 967,
România Period 2007- 230 714 207, 15 127 527, 15 127 527, 6,56% 6,56%
Financial year: 15 127 527, 15 127 527, 15 127 527,
Slovenija Period 2007- 21 640 283, 0, 0, 0,00% 0,00%
Financial year: 0, 0, 0,
Slovensko Period 2007- 13 688 528, 1 996 248, 958 196, 14,58% 7,00%
Financial year: 1 996 248, 1 996 248, 958 196,
Suomi-Finland Period 2007- 39 448 827, 5 306 338, 2 761 417, 13,45% 7,00%
Financial year: 5 306 338, 5 306 338, 2 761 417,
Sverige Period 2007- 54 664 803, 7 353 069, 3 826 536, 13,45% 7,00%
Financial year: 7 353 069, 7 353 069, 3 826 536,
United Kingdom Period 2007- 137 827 889, 0, 0, 0,00% 0,00%
Financial year: 0, 0, 0,
Total Period 2007- 4 304 949 019, 427 598 959, 228 571 398, 9,93% 5,31%
Financial year: 427 598 959, 427 598 959, 228 571 398,
OPERATIONAL PROGRAMMES ADOPTED BY THE COMMISSION IN
Country EFF Amount Decision date Decision number
BG Balgaria 80.009. 19/12/ C(2007)
CZ Česká Republika 27.106. 11/12/ C(2007)
DE Deutschland 155.865. 17/12/ C(2007)
EE Eesti 84.568. 14/12/ C(2007)
EL Ellas 207.832. 11/12/ C(2007)
ES España 1.131.890. 13/12/ C(2007)
FR France 216.053. 19/12/ C(2007)
IT Italia 424.342. 19/12/ C(2007)
CY Kypros 19.724. 19/12/ C(2007)
LV Latvija 125.015. 18/12/ C(2007)
LT Lietuva 54.713. 17/12/ C(2007)
NL Nederland 48.578. 19/12/ C(2007)
AT Österreich 5.259. 19/12/ C(2007)
PT Portugal 246.485. 11/12/ C(2007)
RO România 230.714. 14/12/ C(2007)
SK Slovenská Republika 13.688. 4/12/ C(2007)
FI Suomi/Finland 39.448. 20/11/ C(2007)
SE Sverige 54.664. 19/12/ C(2007)
TOTAL 3.299.636.
EFF BREAKDOWN BY PRIORITY AXIS AND BY MEMBER STATE
Country Priority axis Priority axis Priority axis Priority axis Priority axis Total
Priority axis 1: measures for the adaptation of the Community fishing fleet
Priority axis 2: aquaculture, inland fishing, processing and marketing of fishery and aquaculture products
Priority axis 3: measures of common interest
Priority axis 4: sustainable development of fisheries areas
Priority axis 5: technical assistance