2012/287/EU: Commission Decision of 11 January 2012 on State aid C 21/10 (ex E 1/10) — Finland following the non-acceptance of the appropriate measures for the Fisheries Insurance Scheme after the adoption by the Commission of revised Guidelines for the examination of State aid to fisheries and aquaculture (notified under document C(2011) 10065) Text with EEA relevance

1 The existing aid scheme ‘Fisheries Insurance Scheme’ which was subject to a proposal for appropriate measures after the revision of the Guidelines for the examination of State aid to fisheries and aquaculture is compatible with the internal market when it is amended in accordance with the following commitment made by Finland: exclusion of the vessels exercising fishing in the open sea, which means in practice the exclusion of the vessels over 12 metres long, eligibility only for damages suffered in territorial waters of Finland or in its economic exclusive zone, only coverage of the damages which are caused by the specific conditions of Finland and thus caused by the adverse climatic or geographical conditions (ice, snow, strong storms, reefs in shallow waters) or by the seals and cormorants, and suffered by the vessels and fishing gear as well as transport and haulage vehicles and other specific equipment used for winter fishing.

2 The legal provisions amending this scheme shall enter into force at the latest by 1 January 2013 and the relevant insurance contracts concluded on their basis shall enter into force at the latest by 1 January 2014.

This Decision is addressed to the Republic of Finland.