The specific control and inspection programme related to the recovery of bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean, as established by Decision 2009/296/EC, is to expire on the 15 March 2011. A new Commission Decision should be adopted with a view of ensuring the continuity of that programme and implementing immediately certain provisions of ICCAT Recommendation 10-04, notably those on the early submission of required fishing and inspection plans.

The new specific control and inspection programme should be set up for the period from 15 March 2011 to 15 March 2014. The results obtained through its application should be periodically evaluated in cooperation with the Member States concerned.

In order to harmonise the control and inspection of the bluefin tuna fishery at Union level, it is appropriate to draw up common rules for the control and inspection activities to be carried out by the competent authorities of the Member States concerned, and that Member States adopt national control action programmes in order to comply with such common rules. To that end, benchmarks for the intensity of control and inspection activities should be fixed, as well as control and inspection priorities and procedures.

To ensure the follow-up of infringements, this Decision should set up amongst others, the procedures under which the authorities concerned may exchange relevant information in accordance with Article 117 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009.

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture,