EN Official Journal of the European Union L 112/6

ANNEX VI

Rural development (referred to in Article 35(2) of the Act of Accession)

TEMPORARY ADDITIONAL RURAL DEVELOPMENT MEASURES FOR CROATIA

A. Support for semi-subsistence farms undergoing restructuring

In the rural development legislative framework for the 2014-2020 programming period, as regards Croatia, special support for semi-subsistence agricultural holdings shall be granted, pursuant to the principles laid down in Article 34 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005, to farmers in respect of applications approved by 31 December 2017, provided that no similar general measures and/or support is foreseen in the new rural development regulation for the 2014-2020 programming period.

B. Producer groups

In the rural development legislative framework for the 2014-2020 programming period, as regards Croatia, special support to facilitate the setting up and administrative operation of producer groups shall be granted, pursuant to the principles laid down in Article 35 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005, to producer groups which are officially recognised by Croatia's competent authority by 31 December 2017, provided that no similar general measures and/or support is foreseen in the new rural development regulation for the 2014-2020 programming period.

C. Leader

In the rural development legislative framework for the 2014-2020 programming period, as regards Croatia, the minimum EAFRD contribution to the rural development programme for Leader shall be set on average at a level which is at least half of the percentage of the budget that shall be applicable to the other Member States, if such a requirement is set.

D. Complements to direct payments

1. Support may be granted to farmers eligible for complementary national direct payments or aid under Article 132 of Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2009.

2. The support granted to a farmer in respect of the years 2014, 2015 and 2016 shall not exceed the difference between: (a) the level of direct payments applicable in Croatia for the year concerned in accordance with Article 121 of Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2009; and (b) 45 % of the level of direct payments applicable in the Union as constituted on 30 April 2004 in the relevant year.

3. The Union contribution to support granted under this subsection D in Croatia in respect of the years 2014, 2015 and 2016 shall not exceed 20 % of its respective total annual EAFRD allocation.

4. The Union contribution rate for the complements to direct payments shall not exceed 80 %.

E. Instrument for pre-accession assistance — Rural development

1. Croatia may continue to contract or enter into commitments under the IPARD programme under Commission Regulation (EC) No 718/2007 of 12 June 2007 implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 1085/2006 establishing an instrument for pre-accession assistance (IPA) (1) until it begins to contract or enter into commitments under the relevant rural development Regulation. Croatia shall inform the Commission of the date on which it begins contracting or entering into commitments under the relevant rural development Regulation.

2. The Commission shall adopt the necessary measures to this end in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 5 of European Parliament and Council Regulation (EU) No 182/2011. To that effect, the Commission shall be assisted by the IPA Committee referred to in Article 14(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1085/2006.

F. IPARD ex post evaluation

In the rural development legislative framework for the 2014-2020 programming period, as regards the implementation of the IPARD programme for Croatia, expenditure relating to the ex post evaluation of the IPARD programme provided for in Article 191 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 718/2007 may be eligible under technical assistance.

G. Modernisation of agricultural holdings

In the rural development legislative framework for the 2014-2020 programming period, as regards Croatia, the maximum intensity of an aid for the modernisation of agricultural holdings shall be 75 % of the amount of eligible investment for the implementation of Council Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources (2), within a maximum period of four years from the date of accession pursuant to Articles 3(2) and 5(1) of that Directive.

H. Respect of standards

In the rural development legislative framework for the 2014-2020 programming period, as regards Croatia, the statutory management requirements referred to in Annex II to Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 applicable in that programming period shall be respected in accordance with the following timetable: requirements referred to in Point A of Annex II shall apply from 1 January 2014; requirements referred to in Point B of Annex II shall apply from 1 January 2016; and requirements referred to in Point C of Annex II shall apply from 1 January 2018.

(1) OJ L 170, 29.6.2007, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 375, 31.12.1991, p. 1.