THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament,
Whereas:
(1)
The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) sets out general rules on the conservation, management and responsible exploitation, and processing and marketing of living aquatic resources.
(2)
Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 of 20 December 2002 on the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources under the Common Fisheries Policy underlined the need to enhance cooperation and coordination among Member States and with the Commission in order to strengthen control and discourage behaviour contrary to CFP rules.
(3)
The period covered by Decision 2004/465/EC will expire on 31 December 2005.
(4)
Due to domestic budgetary and administrative difficulties, Member States which acceded to the Community on 1 May 2004 have obtained very limited Community financial assistance under the current financial scheme foreseen under Decision 2004/465/EC.
(5)
The new financial perspective will cover the period 2007 to 2013. In order to avoid an interruption of Community financial support, it is therefore necessary that the financial assistance available to Member States under Decision 2004/465/EC is continued during 2006.
(6)
It is appropriate to include in Decision 2004/465/EC studies on fisheries control as well as arrangements designed to facilitate the implementation of new technologies on control.
(7)
Decision 2004/465/EC should therefore be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: