1996D0228 — EN — 01.01.2000 — 003.001 — 1
This document is meant purely as a documentation tool and the institutions do not assume any liability for its contents
►B COMMISSION DECISION
of 28 February 1996
on a long-term national aid scheme to assist farmers in northern areas of Sweden
(Only the Swedish text is authentic)
(96/228/EC)
(OJ L 76, 26.3.1996, p. 29)
Amended by:
Official Journal
No page date
►M1 Commission Decision of 17 July 1997 (97/557/EC) L 230 13 21.8.1997
►M2 Commission Decision 2000/411/EC of 9 June 2000 L 155 60 28.6.2000
NB: This consolidated version contains references to the European unit of account and/or the ecu, which from 1 January 1999
should be understood as references to the euro — Council Regulation (EEC) No 3308/80 (OJ L 345, 20.12.1980, p. 1) andCouncil Regulation (EC) No 1103/97 (OJ L 162, 19.6.1997, p. 1).
▼B
COMMISSION DECISION
of 28 February 1996
on a long-term national aid scheme to assist farmers in northern
areas of Sweden
(Only the Swedish text is authentic)
(96/228/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to the Act of Accession of the Republic of Austria, the
Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden, and in particularArticle 142 thereof,
Whereas in order to authorize Sweden to grant long-term national aid
intended to ensure that agricultural activity is maintained in northern
regions, those regions must be determined by the Commission;
Whereas, in order to facilitate the administration of the scheme when
determining those regions, it is appropriate to keep the communes and
the four sub-regions defined in the Swedish system of aid to agriculturein northern areas in force before accession as the administrative unitsrelevant for checking compliance with the determination criteria;
Whereas the regions selected are to cover the agricultural areas situated
to the north of the 62nd parallel and some adjacent areas south of thatparallel affected by comparable climatic conditions rendering agricul-tural activity particularly difficult; whereas, when determining thoseregions, account must be taken in particular of low population density,
the agricultural area as a proportion of the overall surface area, and the
agricultural area devoted to arable crops intended for human consump-tion as a proportion of the utilized agricultural area (UAA);
Whereas the foregoing elements lead, in the case of Sweden, to the list
of administrative units in sub-regions 1, 2A, 2B and 3 provided for in
this Decision, which units are either north of the 62nd parallel oradjacent to that parallel and affected by comparable climatic conditionsrendering agricultural activity particularly difficult and have populationdensities of 10 inhabitants or fewer per square km, UAA considered to
constitute 10% or less of the overall surface area and a proportion 20%
or less of that UAA devoted to arable crops intended for humanconsumption; whereas it is appropriate that communes entirelysurrounded by such areas be included in the list up to a maximum oftwo communes per enclave, even if they do not have the samecharacteristics;
Whereas the northern area thus determined represents a UAA of
509 442 ha, which is 14% of the total UAA in Sweden;
Whereas on the basis of available national statistics, the reference period
both for quantities and for the amount of support should be fixed as 1994for the production of cows milk and of soft fruit and vegetables and as1993 for other products;
Whereas, for reasons of transparency, it is appropriate to indicate the
volume of production per product in the abovementioned years;
Whereas on 11 May 1995 Sweden submitted to the Commission details
of the system of aid planned; whereas it subsequently forwardedadditional information; whereas this system provides for aid for cow'smilk, goats, pigs, laying hens and soft fruit and vegetables; whereas thelevel of aid planned means that the level of overall support appliedduring the selected reference period is not exceeded;1996D0228 — EN — 01.01.2000 — 003.001 — 2
▼B
Whereas the planned measures may be authorized since they satisfy the
conditions referred to in Article 142 (3) of the Act of Accession;whereas the measures take account of the level of compensatory
allowance within the meaning of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2328/
91 (
1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2387/95 (2), and the agri-
environmental aid provided for in Council Regulation (EEC) No 2078/92 (
3), as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2772/95 (4)
for the northern areas, levels which it is appropriate to note for the sake
of transparency; whereas, if accompanied by the necessary measures,
they will not lead either to an increase in overall support or to anincrease in production in comparison with the abovementioned referenceperiods; whereas, in the latter connection, it is appropriate to reduce aidin the following year in proportion to the extent by which productionexceeds that of the reference period;
Whereas, with respect to the last point, apart from cow's milk, for which
production is governed by the quota system laid down by the commonorganization of the market, and in particular by Council Regulation
(EEC) No 3950/92 (
5), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1552/95 (6),
aid is not granted on the basis of quantities produced but on the basis ofproduction factors (head of livestock or hectares) within regional limits;whereas for the sake of clarity it is appropriate to set out those limits inAnnex IV;
Whereas the aid for the transport of cow's milk provided for in the
scheme may be authorized by virtue of the third subparagraph of Article142 (3) of the Act of Accession; whereas, in any cases where transport
aid is granted as part of a national aid scheme for regional support, it is
necessary to ensure that the various aid schemes do not result in theduplication of compensation for the same activity;
Whereas the aid corresponds to the objectives set out in the third
subparagraph of Article 142 (3) since they are designed to maintaintraditional primary production suited to the climatic conditions of theregions concerned, to improve production for agricultural products andfacilitate their disposal and to ensure that the environment is protected
and the countryside preserved; whereas, in particular, the aid for the
transport of cow's mill corresponds to the objective set out in the thirdsubparagraph of Article 142 (3) and may be permitted since it does notduplicate any aid authorized as part of the national aid scheme forregional support;
Whereas, in the light of the foregoing, the aid in question may be
authorized, on condition that it complies with the limits set for certainproducts by the common organization of the markets,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The northern region of Sweden shall include, by sub-region, the local
administrative units (Församling) and municipal units (Kommun) listedin Annex I.
Article 2
1. The reference period referred to in Article 142 (3) of the Act of
Accession shall be 1994 as regards both quantities and the level ofsupport to be complied with for the production of cow's milk and softfruit and vegetables, and 1993 as regards other products.
2. Production in the reference period is indicated by product in Annex
II.1996D0228 — EN — 01.01.2000 — 003.001 — 3
(1) OJ No L 218, 6. 8. 1991, p. 1.
(2) OJ No L 244, 12. 10. 1995, p. 50.
(3) OJ No L 215, 30. 7. 1992, p. 85.
(4) OJ No L 288, 1. 12. 1995, p. 35.
(5) OJ No L 405, 31. 12. 1992, p. 1.
(6) OJ No L 148, 30. 6. 1995, p. 43.
▼B
Article 3
1. The aid set out in Annex III shall be authorized from 1 January
1995. This Annex lists the authorized amounts, by sub-region, by
production factor (hectare, head of livestock) or by quantity produced, as
well as the overall amount of authorized national aid.
Annex IV lists the maximum numbers of hectares, tonnes or animals that
may be covered by the aid.
The aid shall be authorized taking account of the level of Community
aid listed in Annex V and shall in no case be granted by quantityproduced, with the exception of aid for cow's milk.
2. As regards cow's milk, the aid provided for in the first
subparagraph of paragraph 1 shall be limited for each farmer to the
reference quantity allocated under Article 4 of Regulation (EEC) No3950/92 after any reallocation of unused reference quantities inaccordance with the second subparagraph of Article 2 (1) of thatRegulation in respect of the milk year ending during the calendar year in
question.
Article 4
Sweden shall submit to the Commission, before 1 June each year, as part
of the information provided pursuant to Article 143(2) of the Act ofAccession, information on the impact of the aid granted and in particularon production trends and the development of the means of productionbenefiting from the aid and of the economy of the regions concerned, as
well as the impact on the protection of the environment and the
preservation of the countryside referred to in the third subparagraph ofArticle 142(3) of the Act of Accession.
It shall take all the steps necessary to apply this Decision and make all
the necessary arrangements for monitoring the beneficiaries.
Where the quantities provided for in Annex II are exceeded, Sweden
shall reduce the aid granted for the products concerned, proportionally in
the following year. In the case of arable crop production, the reductionshall be applied only if the reference quantity is exceeded by more than10% on overage for two consecutive years.
Article 5
Sweden may determine the conditions for granting aid to the different
categories of beneficiaries, provided those conditions comply with theamounts and other elements laid down in this Decision and may change,
subject to prior Commission authorization of the adjustment, the level of
aid per product or other aspects of the aid scheme in question.
Article 6
The Commission may review this Decision, in particular on the basis of
trends in the value of the national currency or of trends in theCommunity aid referred to in Annex V.
Any revision of the level of authorized aid in the northern areas shall
apply only from the year following that in which the change concernedcomes into effect.
Article 7
This Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Sweden.1996D0228 — EN — 01.01.2000 — 003.001 — 4
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▼B
▼M2
▼B
▼B
ANNEX I
SUB-REGION 1
Province Commune ParishUAA
(ha)
NORRBOTTEN Kiruna Karesuando, Vittangi, Jukkasjärvi
Boden Edefors, Gunnarsbyn
Gällivare Malmberget, Niilivaara, Hakkas, Gällivares
s. del, Gällivares n. del
Pajala Junosuando, Tärendö, Korpilombolo,
Muonionalusta, Pajala
Övertorneå Hietaniemi, Svanstein, Övertorneå
Överkalix ÖverkalixJokkmokk Vuollerim, Porjus, Jokkmokk
Arjeplog Arjeplog
Arvidsjaur Arvidsjaur
VÄSTERBOTTEN Skellefteå Kalvträsk, Jörn
Lycksele Örträsk, Björksele, Lycksele
Åsele Fredrika, Åsele
Vilhelmina Vilhelminas ö. del, Vilhelminas v. del
Dorotea Risbäck, Dorotea
Sorsele Gargnäs, Sorseles ö. del, Sorseles v. del
Storuman Tärna, Stenseles ö. del, Stenseles v. del
Malå Malå
Norsjö Norsjö
Vindeln Åmsele
JÄMTLAND Härjedalen Lillhärdal, Ängersjö, Ytterhogdal,
Överhögdal, Tännäs, Ljusnedal, Hede,
Vemdalen, Älvros, Linsell, Sveg
Berg Rätan, Klövsjö, Åsarne, Storsjö
Åre Undersåker, Kalls ö. del, Kalls v. del,
Mörsil, Åre
Strömsund Tåsjö, Bodum, Fjällsjö, Frostviken, Gåxsjö,
Alanäs, Ström
Krokom Offerdal Siluromr., Offerdal Fjällbygden,
Hotagen, Föllinges s. del, Föllinges n. del,
Laxsjös s. del, Laxsjös n. del
VÄSTERNORRLAND Sollefteå Ramsele, Junsele
Ånge Haverö
KOPPARBERG Älvdalen Idre, SärnaGÄVLEBORG Ljusdal The part of the parish of Kårböle and Färila
which is delimited to the north and east by
the river Ljusnan, to the south by the river
Ängraån and to the west by the border of
the county of Jämtland
Total UAA in sub-region 1 79 1281996D0228 — EN — 01.01.2000 — 003.001 — 5
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SUB-REGION 2 A
Province Commune ParishUAA
(ha)
NORRBOTTEN Haparanda Karl Gustav, Nedertorneå-Haparanda
Boden Överluleå
Piteå Norrfjärden, Piteås landsförsamling,
Hortlax, Piteås stadsförsamling
Luleå Råneå, Nederluleås s. del, Nederluleås n.
del, Örnäset, Luleås domkyrkoförsamling
Älvsbyn Älvsby
Kalix Töre, Nederkalix
VÄSTERBOTTEN Skellefteå Burträsk, Lövånger, Fällfors, Byskes s. del,
Byskes n. del, Kågedalens s. del, Kågeda-
lens n. del, Boliden, Skellefteås
landsförsamlings ö. del, Skellefteås land-
sförsamlings v. del, Bureå, Sankt Örjan,
Sankt Olov
Umeå Sävars s. del, Sävars n. del, Holmön,
Hörnefors, Holmsund, Ålidhem, Teg,
Tavelsjö, Umeås landsförsamling, Umeås
stadsförsamling
Vännäs Vännäs ö. del, Vännäs v. del
Robertsfors Nysätra, Robertsfors, Bygdeå
Vindeln Vindeln
Bjurholm Bjurholm
Nordmaling Nordmaling
JÄMTLAND Östersund Häggenås, Lit, Kyrkås, Lockne, Näs, Sunne
Berg Myssjö, Oviken, Hackås, Berg
Åre Marby, Hallen, Mattmar
Strömsund Hammerdal
Krokom Alsen, Aspås, Näskott
Bräcke Bodsjö, Revsund, Sundsjö, Håsjö, Hällesjö,
Nyhem, Bräcke
Ragunda Borgvattnet
VÄSTERNORRLAND Örnsköldsvik Trehörningsjö, Björna, Skorped, Anundsjö
Sollefteå Edsele, Ådals-Liden
KOPPARBERG Mora Venjan, Våmhus, the greater part of the
parish of Mora separated from the rest of
the parish
Älvdalen Älvdalen
Malung Transtrand, Lima, Malung
VÄRMLAND Arvika Bogen
Torsby Norra Ny, Dalby, Södra Finnskoga, Norra
Finnskoga, Östmark, Nyskoga, Vitsand,
Lekvattnet
Total UAA in sub-region 2 A 189 1901996D0228 — EN — 01.01.2000 — 003.001 — 6
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SUB-REGION 2 B
Province Commune ParishUAA
(ha)
JÄMTLAND Östersund Norderö, Brunflo, Marieby, Frösö, Öster-
sund
Krokom Ås, Rödön
Ragunda Stugun, Fors, Ragunda
VÄSTERNORRLAND Örnsköldsvik Gideå, Grundsunda, Mo, Själevad, Nätra,
Sidensjö, Arnäs, Örnsköldsvik
Sollefteå Sånga, Överlännäs, Boteå, Helgum, Resele,
Ed, Långsele, Graninge, Multrå, Sollefteå
Kramfors Ytterlännäs, Torsåker, Dal, Styrnäs, Bjärträ,
Ullånger, Vibyggerå, Nordingrå, Skog,
Nora, Gudmundrå
Sundsvall Liden, Holm, Indal, Njurunda, Attmar,
Tuna, Stöde, Selånger, Sättna, Alnö, Skön,
Skönsmon, Sundsvall Gustav Adolf
Härnösand Hemsö, Säbrå, Viksjö, Stigsjö,
Häggdånger, Högsjö, Härnösand domkyr-
koförsamling
Timrå Tynderö, Hässjö, Ljustorp, Timrå
Ånge Torp, Borgsjö
GÄVLEBORG Hudiksvall Hög, Forsa, Norrbo, Bjuråkers s. del,
Bjuråkers n. del, Delsbo, Enånger,
Njutånger, Rogsta, Hälsingtuna, Idenor,
Hudiksvall
Ljusdal Järvsö, Ramsjö, Kårböle, Färilas ö. del,
Färilas v. del, Los, Hamra, Ljusdals s. del,
Ljusdals n. del
Nordanstig Hassela, Bergsjö, Gnarp, Jättendal,
Harmånger, Ilsbo
Total UAA in sub-region 2 B 122 6711996D0228 — EN — 01.01.2000 — 003.001 — 7
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SUB-REGION 3
Province Commune ParishUAA
(ha)
GÄVLEBORG Bollnäs Arbrå, Undersvik, Hanebo, Segersta,
Rengsjö, Bollnäs
Söderhamn Norrala, Trönö, Mo, Bergvik, Söderala,
Ljusne, Skog, Sandarne, Söderhamn
Gävle Hamrånge
Ovanåker Alfta, Voxna, Ovanåker
Ockelbo Lingbo, Ockelbo, Åmot
KOPPARBERG Ludvika Säfsnäs
Falun Bjursås, Enviken, Svärdsjö
Mora Sollerön, Mora
Orsa Orsa
Rättvik Ore, Boda, Rättvik
Leksand Siljansnäs, Ål, Djura, Leksand
Gagnef Floda, Gagnef, Mockfjärd
Vansbro Äppelbo, Nås, Järna
VÄRMLAND Säffle Långserud, Svanskog
Arvika Brunskog, Mangskog, Älgå, Ny,
Gunnarskog, Glava, Högerud, Stavnäs,
Arvika Västra, Arvika Östra
Hagfors Sunnemo, Norra Råda, Gustav Adolf,
Ekshärad, Hagfors
Filipstad Rämmen, Gåsborn
Sunne Lysvik, Gräsmark
Årjäng Östervallskog, Töcksmark, Västra
Fågelvik, Trankil, Blomskog, Holmedal,
Karlanda, Sillerud, Silbodal
Grums Värmskog
Torsby Fryksände
Eda Köla, Skillingmark, Järnskog, Eda
Kil Boda
Total UAA in sub-region 3 118453
Overall total UAA in sub-regions 1-3 509 4421996D0228 — EN — 01.01.2000 — 003.001 — 8
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ANNEX II
Provided for in Article 2 (2)
PRODUCTION
(tonnes)
ProductNorthern sub-region
12 Α 2Β 3 Total
Pigmeat 214 8 003 2 358 10 575
Eggs 900 3 700 400 5 000
Milk 54 763 216 150 121 073 92 249 484 235Soft fruit and vegetables (
1) 5 640 2 060 7 700
(1) Excluding potatoes.1996D0228 — EN — 01.01.2000 — 003.001 — 9
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ANNEX III
Provided for in the first subparagraph of Article 3(1)
Unit aid authorised in SEK/unitNational aid authorised per sub-region
in SEK million/year
Sub-region Sub-region
Total
12 A 2 B3 12 A 2 B3
Cow's milk (SEK/kg) 1,05 0,71 0,47 0,09 53,00 158,00 56,37 7,50 274,87
Goats (SEK/head) (1) 430 430 430 430 0,51 0,40 0,20 1,11
Pigs (SEK/head)
— pigs for slaughter 222 143 143 23 0,46 13,05 0,66 14,17— sows 843 437 437 101 0,18 2,60 0,13 2,91
Laying hens (SEK/head) 13,45 13,45 13,45 4,9 0,67 1,69 0,048 2,40
Soft fruit and vegetables
(SEK/ha) (
2) 2 850 2 850 2 850 1 850 1,84 0,19 2,03
Transport aid for cow's milk
(SEK/kg) (3) 0,043 0,039 0,039 0,03 2,2 8,7 4,9 2,8 18,6
Total 316,09
(1) Only goats used for milk production.
(2) Excluding potatoes.
(3) Between the farm and the collection centre or first processing centre.1996D0228 — EN — 01.01.2000 — 003.001 — 10
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ANNEX IV
Provided for in the second subparagraph of Article 3(1)
(Quantities expressed in production factors)
Number of production factors eligible for aid
(heads, livestock units or hectares)
northern sub-region
Total
12 A 2 B3
Dairy cows (heads) 8 919 34 057 19 465 14 559 77 000
Goats (heads) 1 173 936 468 2 577
Laying hens and pigs (LU) (1) 778 12 349 3 405 16 532
Soft fruit and vegetables (2) 646 104 750
(1) Where 1 laying hen is 0,01 LU, sow is 0,33 LU and 1 pig for slaughter is 0,10 LU.
(2) Excluding potatoes.1996D0228 — EN — 01.01.2000 — 003.001 — 11
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ANNEX V
Provided for in the third subparagraph of Article 3 (1)
(1 green ECU = Skr 10,5852 / 1 book-rate ECU = Skr 9,12158)
Animal production AreaCompensatory allow-
ance (1) planned (ECU
180/LU or ha)Agri-environmental
measures planned Regula-
tion (EEC) No 2078/92Overall
total
Average per
unit Skr/headtotal in Skr
millionAverage per
unit Skr/headtotal in Skr
millionSkr million
Cows 1 1 493 (1) 13,32 2 055 (2) 18,33 31,65
2 A 1 462 (1) 49,79 1 848 (2) 62,94 112,73
2 B 1 444 (1) 28,11 1 787 (2) 34,78 62,89
3 1 382 (1) 20,12 1 634 (2) 23,79 43,91
Total 111,34 139,84 251,18
Goats 1 246 0,29 324 (3) 0,38 0,67
2 246 0,23 291 (3) 0,27 0,50
3 246 0,11 276 (3) 0,134 0,24
Total 0,63 0,78 1,41
Sows 1 612 0,13 0,13
2 558 3,32 3,32
3 514 0,64 0,64
Total 4,09 (4) 4,09
Pigs for slaughter 1 90 0,14 0,14
2 83 6,84 6,84
3 75 1,96 1,96
Total 8,94 (4) 8,94
Overall total 125,00 140,62 265,62
(1) Skr 1 640 /LU (cows) and/or ha for the first 60 units, Skr 1 435 /LU between 60 and 120 units; Skr 615 /LU for
over 120 units. Aid below Skr 500 per holding is not paid.
(2) Level of aid from 1999. Aid limited to 140 000 ha to be decided according to the procedures laid down in
Regulation (EEC) No 2078/92.For the period 1995-1998, the aid planned is limited to 115 000 ha and amounts toSkr 2 700, Skr 2 450, Skr 2 400 and Skr 2 300 /ha respectively for sub-regions 1-3.
(
3) Level of aid for the period 1995-1998 From 1999, the aid will be increased to Skr 369, Skr 323, Skr and Skr 292 /
head for areas 1, 2 A, 2 B and 3 respectively.
(4) In conformity with Community legislation for this production, aid is calculated on the basis of utilized area minus
the area devoted to livestock feed production.1996D0228 — EN — 01.01.2000 — 003.001 — 12