Press Release: Fisheries reform and enlargement: Commission proposes aid programme for expenditure in enforcement of CFP rules

The European Commission tabled a proposal on 20 November 2003 for a two-year aid programme to help national authorities meet the cost of monitoring and control under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The European Union aid will amount to €70 million over the 2004-2005 period. It will also become available to the new Member States when they join the EU to help them rapidly upgrade their control structures and to ensure the correct application of CFP measures. Funding will continue to be available for the purchase of equipment, particularly for satellite and electronic monitoring equipment and for training of enforcement personnel. New projects will become eligible such as actions to raise awareness of the importance of enforcement for the conservation of fish stocks among stakeholders, enforcement authorities, the judiciary and the public. The current funding scheme, applicable since 1 January 2001, will end on 31 December 2003. The proposed aid programme will apply from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2005 when the EU single inspection structure is expected to come into operation.

http://ec.europa.eu/comm/dgs/fisheries/index_en.htm http://ec.europa.eu/comm/dgs/fisheries/index_en.htm

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