COMMISSION DECISION of 25 June 1976 concerning application for reimbursement in respect of aid granted by Member States pursuant to Directive 75/268/EEC (76/627/EEC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 75/268/EEC of 28 April 1975 on mountain and hill farming in certain less-favoured areas (1), and in particular Article 13 thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 72/159/EEC of 17 April 1972 on the modernization of farms (2), and in particular Article 21 (4) thereof,
Whereas applications forwarded to the Guidance Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund for reimbursement in respect of aid for the improvement of agriculture on mountains, hill and certain less-favoured areas granted by Member States should include certain particulars which, to facilitate verification that applications comply with the Directive and the taking of decisions thereof, should be submitted by all Member States in a standard form;
Whereas, in order to enable an effective check to be kept on applications for reimbursement, Member States should hold the supporting documents on the basis of which the aids were calculated at the disposal of the Commission for a period of three years;
Whereas in order to enable the Commission to exercise its power to make payments on account to Member States, the amount and dates for payment on account by the Commission should be specified;
Whereas, since expenditure under Title III of Directive 75/268/EEC relates to Directive 72/159/EEC the reimbursement of such expenditure should be made under the provisions laid down for this purpose in Commission Decision 74/581/EEC of 16 October 1974 concerning applications for reimbursement of aid granted by Member States pursuant to Directives 72/159/EEC, 72/160/EEC and 72/161/EEC (3);
Whereas, in order to differentiate between less-favoured and normal areas benefiting under Council Directive 72/159/EEC, the standard form as presented in Commission Decision 74/581/EEC should be modified;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Fund Committee,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Applications for reimbursement of expenditure, incurred in a calendar year, prepared by Member States in accordance with Article 13 of Directive 75/268/EEC and Article 21 (1) of Directive 72/159/EEC shall be submitted in the form provided by the present decision before 1 July of the following year. (1)OJ No L 128, 19.5.1975, p. 1. (2)OJ No L 96, 23.4.1972, p. 1. (3)OJ No L 320, 29.11.1974, p. 1.
Article 2
Applications for reimbursement of expenditure under Titles II and IV (Article 11) of Directive 75/268/EEC shall be submitted in the forms set out in the Annexes to this Decision.
Applications for reimbursement concerning Title III of Directive 75/268/EEC shall be submitted along with applications for reimbursement of expenditure on Directive 72/159/EEC under the provisions laid down in Commission Decision 74/581/EEC of 16 October 1974.
Article 3
Annexes 1 and 4 of Commission Decision 74/581/EEC of 16 October 1974 shall be modified in the manner given at Annex II to this Decision.
Article 4
The Member State should hold the supporting papers (originals or certified copies), which provide the basis for calculating the aid under Directive 75/268/EEC and complete case files for the beneficiaries, at the disposition of the Commission for a period of three years from the date of the last reimbursement.
Article 5
1. The Commission, acting on the basis of particulars contained in the application for reimbursement, shall before 1 November make a payment on account of 75 % of the amount requested in respect of Titles II and IV (Article 11) expenses, if the application is complete and submitted in due form and in good time.
2. The balance of the amount to be reimbursed shall be paid by the Commission to the Member State not later than 31 March of the following year, provided the application is in order in all aspects.
Article 6
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 25 June 1976.