Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION FIXING THE AMOUNT OF THE COMMUNITY FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION FOR 1996 TO EXPENDITURE INCURRED BY THE SWEDISH AUTHORITIES FOR THE RELEASE OF SMOLT
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES Brussels, 23. 07. 1996 COM(96)385 final Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION FIXING THE AMOUNT OF THE COMMUNITY FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION FOR 1996 TO EXPENDITURE INCURRED BY THE SWEDISH AUTHORITIES FOR THE RELEASE OF SMOLT (presented by the Commission) EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM Article 125 of the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden provides that for three years from the date of its accession Sweden will benefit from a Community financial contribution to the financing of the release of smolt in the Baltic This Community contribution, which must be the subject of a decision by the Council, acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission, must be assessed in the light of the balances existing immediately before accession. The contribution corresponds to that previously paid by the Community to Sweden under the bilateral agreement on certain measures for the purpose of promoting the reproduction of salmon in the Baltic Sea. Council Regulation (EEC) No 2210/80 of 27 June 1980 on the agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of Sweden on certain measures for the purpose of promoting the reproduction of salmon in the Baltic2 provides that the amount of the contribution must be determined so as to cover the actual costs to the Swedish authorities of breeding, tagging and releasing the quantity of smolt necessary to produce a quantity of salmon equal to the non- reciprocal quota allocated to the Community in the Swedish fishery zone for the year during which the contribution is to be granted. Since the total catch from stock permitted in 1996 has been reduced, the amount of the financial contribution has been calculated by applying the reduction coefficient proportionally to the data existing immediately before accession. J No L 126, 29. 4. 1980, p. 7. Proposal for a Council Decision fixing the amount of the Community Financial contribution for 1996 to expenditure incurred by the Swedish authorities for the release of smolt THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden, and in particular Article 125 thereof, Whereas Article 125 of the Act of Accession provides that the Council, acting as a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission, must fix annually the amount of the Community's financial contribution to the release of smolt carried out by the competent Swedish authorities; Whereas that financial contribution must be approved in the light of the balances existing immediately before Sweden's accession; Whereas Council Regulation (EEC) No 2210/80 of 27 June 1980 on the agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of Sweden on certain measures for the purpose of promoting the reproduction of salmon in the Baltic3 provides that the amount of the contribution must be equal to the actual costs to the Swedish authorities of breeding, tagging and releasing the quantity of smolt necessary to produce a quantity of salmon equal to the non-reciprocal quota allocated to the Community in the Swedish fishery zone for the year during which the contribution is to be granted; Whereas the Commission has received Sweden's application for the Community financial contribution for 1996; whereas this application is the same as for 1994; J No L 126, 29. 4. 1980, p. 7. Whereas the International Committee for Baltic Fisheries has recommended an ACR for the Baltic salmon stock and the proportion of that ACR to be allocated to the Community; Whereas the ACR fixed for 1996 has been reduced and the Swedish application must be reexamined in the light of that fact; Whereas the amount of the Community financial contribution has been calculated by applying proportionally this reduction in the non-reciprocal quota which Sweden is assumed to have allocated to the Community, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 The amount of the Community financial contribution for 1996 to expenditure on promoting salmon reproduction in the Baltic Sea shall not exceed ECU 662. 508. Article 2 This Decision is addressed to the Government of Sweden. Done at Brussels, For the Council 1. Title of operation Financial statement Financial contribution to measures to promote the reproduction of salmon in the Baltic. 2. Bitdgot heading involved B7-800 3* LiCgM oftnt Article 125 of the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden. 4. Description of operation 4. 1. General objective This Commission proposal fixes the amount of the 1996 Community financial contribution to the release of smolt by the competent Swedish authorities as provided for in Article 125 of the Act of Accession. 4. 2. Period covered and arrangements for renewal or extension The measure covers 1996. A new proposal will be made in 1997. 5. Classification of expenditure/revenue 5. 1. 5. 2. 5. 3. compulsory expenditure differentiated appropriations no revenue 6. Type of expenditure or revenue 100% subsidy 7. Financial impact 7. 1. Method of calculating cost of operation The amount of the Community financial contribution to the release of smolt carried out by the Swedish authorities has been calculated on the basis of the balances existing immediately before accession. Council Regulation (EEC) No 2210/80 of 27 June 1980 on the agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of Sweden on certain measures for the purpose of promoting the reproduction of salmon in the Baltic4 provides that the amount of the contribution must be determined so as to cover the J No L 126, 29. 4. 1980, p. 7. 6~ actual costs to the Swedish authorities of breeding, tagging and releasing a quantity of smolt necessary to produce a quantity of salmon equal to the non- reciprocal quota allocated to the Community in the Swedish fishery zone for the year during which the contribution is to be granted. Sweden allocated the Community a salmon quota of 220 tonnes for 1994. In 1996 the overall ACR for Baltic salmon was reduced by 25% and the quotas of each of the partners were reduced by the same proportion. To comply with existing balances it must be assumed that Sweden will allocate the same quantities reduced by the proportion by which the Swedish quota is reduced for 1996, i. e. : 220 T - 220 X 25 = 165 T 100 The Swedes have indicated to the Commission that the actual cost of 1 smolt is 17 Swedish krona and that 1 tonne of salmon is the equivalent of 2 000 smolt. The amount of the financial contribution for 1996 is thus: 165 x 2 000 x 17 SEK 5 610 000 SEK : 8,467820 = 5 610 000 SEK ECU 662 508 7. 2 Itemised breakdown of costs Item Total budget for one year in ECU at 1996 prices Expenditure relating to release of smolt in the Baltic sea by the Swedish authorities 662 508 (May 1996 rate) TOTAL 662 508 7. 3. Operation expenditure on studies, experts' meetings, etc. included in part B 7. 4. None. Schedule for multiannual operations whose basic instrument contains an "amount deemed necessary" None. 8. Fraud prevention measures; results of measures taken Anti-fraud provisions, in particular Articles 209(c), 290a and 213 of the Treaty on European Union, apply. 6 9. Elements of cost-effectiveness analysis 9. 1. Specific objectives Promoting the reproduction of salmon in the Baltic sea. 9. 2. Grounds for the operation Need for a contribution from the Community budget. The Union's financial contribution is laid down in the Treaty of Accession of the Kingdom of Sweden and is compulsory. 9. 3. Monitoring and evaluation of the operation The impact of the measure will be taken into account when fixing the overall ACR for salmon in the Baltic sea. 10. Administrative expenditure (Part A of the Budget) 10. 1 Will the proposed operation involve an increase in the number of Commission staff? if so, how many? No. 10. 2 Indicate the amount of administrative and staff expenditure involved in the proposed operation, Explain the method of calculation, None. ISSN 0254-1475 COM(96) 385 final DOCUMENTS EN 01 03 Catalogue number : CB-CO-96-383-EN-C ISBN 92-78-07380-6 Office for Official Publications of the European Communities L-2985 Luxembourg 8