Translation of "infraction à la règle " (French → English) :

Since action taken following infringements of those rules differs widely from one Member State to another, thereby causing discrimination and unfair competition rules for fishermen and given that the absence of dissuasive, proportionate and effective sanctions in certain Member States reduces the effectiveness of controls, it is appropriate to introduce administrative sanctions in combination with a point system for serious infringements to provide a real deterrent.

To address this weakness, building upon the provisions set out in Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002 and (EEC) No 2847/93 in this area, it is appropriate to approximate within the Community the maximum levels of administrative sanctions foreseen in relation to serious infringements against common fisheries policy rules, taking into account the value of the fishery products obtained by committing the serious infringement, their repetition and the value of the prejudice to the fishing resources and the marine environment concerned, as well as to foresee immediate enforcement measures and complementary measures.

Violations of these rules, in particular by price fixing cartels, can cause considerable damage to companies and consumers but numerous obstacles can hinder actions for damages by injured parties in national courts.

Fisheries: 8,139 serious breaches of CFP rules in 2001 highlight need for reform

Nevertheless, market sharing through quotas, combined with a compensation system, cooperation on sales and prices on a nation-wide scale and protection of the home market against imports on the basis of burden-sharing constitute well-established infringements of the EEC competition rules.

The European Commission has found that Europe's two major producers of soda ash, SOLVAY and ICI, have been in serious breach ofthe Community's competition rules set out in Articles 85 and 86 of the Treaty of Rome.