COMMISSION DECISION of 21 April 1976 on the implementation of the reform of agricultural structures in the United Kingdom pursuant to Title II of Directive 75/268/EEC of 28 April 1975 (Only the English text is authentic) (76/486/EEC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 75/268/EEC of 28 April 1975 on mountain and hill farming and 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 18 (3) thereof,

Whereas on 23 January 1976 the Government of the United Kingdom notified, pursuant to Article 13 of Directive 75/268/EEC in conjunction with Article 17 (4) of Directive 72/159/EEC, the Hill Livestock (compensatory allowances) Regulation 1975 of 18 December 1975;

Whereas this Regulation provides for the granting of subsidies on breeding cows and sheep maintained in the less-favoured areas listed in Directive 75/276/EEC;

Whereas under Article 18 (3) of Directive 72/159/EEC and Article 13 of Directive 75/268/EEC, the Commission must determine whether, having regard to the objectives of Directive 75/268/EEC and to the need for a proper connection between the various measures, laws, regulations and administrative provisions notified comply with this Directive and thus satisfy the conditions for a financial contribution by the Community;

Whereas the basic objective of Directive 75/268/EEC is to ensure the continuation of farming in the mountain and hill areas and less-favoured areas laid down by the Council, thereby maintaining a minimum population level or conserving the countryside;

Whereas Directive 75/268/EEC therefore authorizes the Member States to introduce a system of aids to encourage farming and to raise farm incomes in these areas;

Whereas this system may take the form of an allowance to compensate farmers for permanent natural handicaps, if they undertake to pursue a farming activity in accordance with the aims of the Directive for at least five years ; whereas in the case of cattle, sheep and goat farming this allowance is calculated in relation to livestock numbers and may not exceed 50 units of account per livestock unit and 50 units of account per hectare under forage but may not be less than 15 units of account per livestock unit ; whereas in addition to the conditions in Articles 6 and 7 of the Directive, Member States may lay down supplementary conditions or limitations on the granting of the compensatory allowances;

Whereas the abovementioned Regulation is consistent with the aims and conditions of Directive 75/268/EEC;

Whereas the EAGGF Committee had been consulted on the financial aspects;

Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Agricultural Structures, (1)OJ No L 128, 19.5.1975, p. 1. (2)OJ No L 96, 23.4.1972, p. 1.

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Hill Livestock (compensatory allowances) Regulation 1975, notified by the Government of the United Kingdom on 23 January 1976, satisfies the conditions for a financial contribution by the Community to the measures referred to in Article 13 of Directive 75/268/EEC and Article 15 of Directive 72/159/EEC.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the United Kingdom.

Done at Brussels, 21 April 1976.

For the Commission

P.J. LARDINOIS

Member of the Commission