1.   The specific control and inspection programme shall in particular cover the following activities:

2.   The specific control and inspection programme shall apply until 31 December 2018.

3.   The specific control and inspection programme shall be implemented by Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland and Sweden (hereafter referred to as ‘Member States concerned’).

1.   The specific control and inspection programme shall ensure the uniform and effective implementation of conservation and control measures applicable to stocks referred to in Article 1.

2.   Control and inspection activities carried out under the specific control and inspection programme shall in particular aim at ensuring compliance with the following provisions:

1.   Member States concerned shall carry out control and inspection activities with respect to fishing activities by fishing vessels and fishing related activities by other operators on the basis of a risk management strategy, in conformity with Article 4(18) of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 and Article 98 of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 404/2011.

2.   Each fishing vessel, group of fishing vessels, fishing gear category, operator and/or fishing related activity, for each stock referred to in Article 1, shall be subject to control and inspections according to the level of priority attributed pursuant to paragraph 3.

3.   Each Member State concerned shall attribute the level of priority on the basis of the results of the risk assessment carried out in accordance with the procedures laid down in Article 5.

1.   This Article shall apply to Member States concerned and, for the sole purposes of application of paragraph 4, to all other Member States.

2.   Member States shall assess risks with regard to the stocks and area(s) covered, on the basis of the table set out in Annex I.

3.   The risk assessment by each Member State shall consider, on the basis of past experience and using all available and relevant information, how likely a non-compliance is to happen and, if it were to happen, the potential consequence(s). By combining these elements, each Member State shall estimate a level of risk (‘very low’, ‘low’, ‘medium’, ‘high’ or ‘very high’) for each category for inspection referred to in Article 4(2).

4.   In case where a fishing vessel flying the flag of a Member State which is not a Member State concerned, or a third country fishing vessel, operates in the area(s) referred to in Article 1, it shall be attributed a level of risk in accordance with paragraph 3. In the absence of information and unless its flag authorities provide, in the framework of Article 9, the results of their own risk assessment performed according to Article 4(2) and to paragraph 3 leading to a different risk level, it shall be considered as a ‘very high’ risk level fishing vessel.

1.   On the basis of its risk assessment, each Member State concerned shall define a risk management strategy focused on ensuring compliance. Such strategy shall encompass the identification, description and allocation of appropriate cost-effective control instruments and inspection means, in relation to the nature and the estimated level of each risk, and the achievement of target benchmarks.

2.   The risk management strategy referred to in paragraph 1 shall be coordinated at regional level through a joint deployment plan as defined in Article 2(c) of Regulation (EC) No 768/2005.

1.   In the framework of a joint deployment plan, where applicable, each Member State concerned shall communicate to the EFCA the results of its risk assessment carried out in accordance with Article 5(3) and, in particular, a list of estimated levels of risk with corresponding targets for inspection.

2.   Where appropriate, the risk levels and targets lists referred to in paragraph 1 shall be updated by using information collected during joint inspection and surveillance activities. The EFCA shall be informed immediately following completion of each update.

3.   The EFCA shall use information received from Member States concerned to coordinate the risk management strategy at regional level, in accordance with Article 6(2).

1.   Without prejudice to target benchmarks defined in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 and in Article 9(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 (5), the target benchmarks at Union level for ‘high’ and ‘very high’ risk level fishing vessels and/or other operators are set out in Annex II.

2.   The target benchmarks for ‘very low’, ‘low’ and ‘medium’ risk level fishing vessels and/or other operators shall be determined by Member States concerned through the national control action programmes referred to in Article 46 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 and the national measures referred to in Article 95(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009.

3.   By way of derogation from paragraphs 1 and 2, Member States may apply alternatively different target benchmarks, expressed in terms of improved compliance levels, provided that:

4.   All target benchmarks shall be assessed annually on the basis of the evaluation reports referred to in Article 13(1) and, where appropriate, be revised accordingly in the framework of the evaluation referred to in Article 13(4).

5.   Where applicable, a joint deployment plan shall give effect to target benchmarks referred to in this Article.

1.   Member States concerned shall cooperate in the implementation of the specific control and inspection programme.

2.   Where appropriate, all other Member States shall cooperate with the Member States concerned.

3.   Member States may cooperate with the competent authorities of third countries for the implementation of the specific control and inspection programme.

1.   For the purpose of increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of their national fisheries control systems, Member States concerned shall undertake joint inspection and surveillance activities in waters under their jurisdiction and, where appropriate, on their territory. Where applicable, such activities shall be carried out in the framework of joint deployment plans referred to in Article 9(1) of Regulation (EC) No 768/2005.

2.   For the purpose of joint inspection and surveillance activities, each Member State concerned shall:

3.   Officials and Union inspectors may participate in joint inspection and surveillance activities.

1.   For the purpose of implementing the specific control and inspection programme, each Member State concerned shall ensure the direct electronic exchange of data referred to in Article 111 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 and Annex XII to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 404/2011 with other concerned Member States and the EFCA.

2.   Data referred to in paragraph 1 shall be related to fishing activities and fishing related activities carried out in the area(s) covered by the specific control and inspection programme.

1.   Pending the full implementation of Title XII, Chapter III of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, and in accordance with the format set out in Annex III to this Decision, each Member State concerned shall communicate by electronic means to the Commission and to the EFCA, by 31 January after each calendar year, the following information concerning the preceding year:

2.   Information referred to in paragraph 1 shall be communicated for each control and/or inspection and shall continue to be listed and updated in each report until the action is concluded under the laws of the Member State concerned. Where no action is taken following the detection of a serious infringement, an explanation shall be included.

1.   Each Member State concerned shall, by 31 March of the year following the relevant calendar year, send to the Commission and the EFCA an evaluation report concerning the effectiveness of the control and inspection activities carried out under this specific control and inspection programme.

2.   The evaluation report referred to in paragraph 1 shall at least include the information listed in Annex IV. Member States concerned may also include in their evaluation report other actions such as training or information sessions designed to have an impact on compliance by fishing vessels and other operators.

3.   The EFCA, for its annual assessment of the effectiveness of joint deployment plans referred to in Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 768/2005, shall take into consideration evaluation reports referred to in paragraph 1.

4.   The Commission shall convene once a year a meeting of the Committee for fisheries and aquaculture to evaluate the suitability, adequacy and effectiveness of the specific control and inspection programme and its overall impact on compliance by fishing vessels and other operators, on the basis of evaluation reports referred to in paragraph 1. Target benchmarks set out in Annex II may be reviewed accordingly.