20.11.98 Official Journal of the European Communities L 312/19 COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 2468/98 of 3 November 1998 laying down the criteria and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries and aquaculture sector and the processing and marketing of its products THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 43 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2), (1)  Whereas Council Regulation (EC) No 3699/93 of 21 December 1993 laying down the criteria and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries and aquaculture sector and the processing and marketing of its products (%) has been frequently and substantially amended (*); whereas for reasons of clarity and rationality the said Regulation should be codified; (2)  Whereas Council Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 of 24 June 1988 on the tasks of the Structural Funds and their effectiveness and on coordination of their activities between themselves and with the operations of the European Investment Bank and the other existing financial instruments (°) and Council Regulation (EEC) No 4253/88 of 19 December 1988 laying down provisions for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 (%) define the general objectives and tasks of the Structural Funds and the financial instrument for (1) OJ C 313, 12.10.1998. () OJ C 129, 27.4.1998, p. 74. () OJ L 346, 31.12.1993, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 25/97 (O] L 6, 10.1.1997, p. 7). (*) See Annex IV, Part B. () OJ L 185, 15.7.1988, p. 9. Regulation as last amended by the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden. (®) OJ L 374, 31.12.1988, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 3193/94 (O] L 337, 24.12.199%4, p. 11). fisheries guidance (‘FIFG’), their organisation, the assistance methods, programming and general organisation of the aid provided by the Funds and the general financial arrangements; (3)  Whereas Council Regulation (EEC) No 3760/92 of 20 December 1992 establishing a Community system for fisheries and aquaculture (7) lays down the objectives and general rules of the common policy; whereas the development of the Community fishing fleet must in particular be restricted according to the decisions that the Council is called to take by virtue of Article 11; whereas it is for the Commission to translate these decisions into precise measures at the level of each Member  State; whereas, furthermore, the provisions of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2847/93 of 12 October 1993 establishing a control system applicable to the common fisheries policy (]) must be respected; (4)  Whereas Council Regulation (EEC) No 2080/93 of 20 July 1993 laying down provisions for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88, as regards the financial instrument of fisheries guidance (°), defines the specific tasks of Community structural aid measures in the fisheries and aquaculture sector and the industry processing and marketing its products, hereinafter referred to as ‘the sector’; whereas under Article 6 the Council must decide on the terms and conditions of the contribution of the FIFG to adaptations measures of the structures of the sector; (5) Whereas the Council must lay down detailed rules for the implementation of measures connected with the modification of the structures of the sector in order to ensure that FIFG assistance achieves the (7) OJ L 389, 31.12.1992, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1181/98 (O] L 164, 9.6.1998, p. 1). () OJ L 261, 20.10.1993, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2635/97 (O] L 356, 31.12.1997, p. 14). (°) OJ L 193, 31.7.1993, p. 1.