Commission Regulation (EC) No 1577/2003

of 8 September 2003

derogating from Council Regulation (EC) No 1251/1999 as regards area payments for certain arable crops and payments for set-aside for the 2003/04 marketing year to producers in certain regions of the Community

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1251/1999 of 17 May 1999 establishing a support system for producers of certain arable crops(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1038/2001(2), and in particular the fourth indent of the second paragraph of Article 9 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Article 8(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1251/1999 provides that area payments are to be made from 16 November following the harvest.

(2) Certain regions of the Community have been adversely affected by extreme weather in 2003, resulting in exceptionally low average yields.

(3) Some producers are experiencing severe financial difficulties as a result.

(4) In the light of the situation in certain regions of the Community and the budgetary situation, the Member States concerned should be authorised to make, from 16 October 2003 onwards and subject to a limit of 50 %, advance area payments for arable crops and advance payments for set-aside for the 2003/04 marketing year.

(5) In view of the urgent nature of the measures to be adopted, provision should be made for this Regulation to enter into force immediately.

(6) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

1. By way of derogation from Article 8(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1251/1999, an advance payment in respect of the 2003/04 marketing year of up to 50 % of the area payments for arable crops and of up to 50 % of the payments for set-aside may be made from 16 October 2003 to producers in the Member States or regions listed in the Annex.

2. The advance payment provided for in paragraph 1 may be made only where, on the date of payment, the producer concerned is found to be eligible.

3. When calculating the final area payment to producers who receive the advance provided for in paragraph 1 of this Article, the competent authority shall take account of:

(a) any reduction in the producer's eligible area;

(b) any advance paid under this Regulation.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 8 September 2003.

For the Commission

Franz Fischler

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 12.

(2) OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 16.

ANNEX

France: Departments concerned

01 AIN

03 ALLIER

04 ALPES-DE-HAUTE-PROVENCE

05 HAUTES-ALPES

07 ARDÈCHE

09 ARIÈGE

11 AUDE

12 AVEYRON

13 BOUCHES-DU-RHÔNE

15 CANTAL

16 CHARENTE

17 CHARENTE-MARITIME

18 CHER

19 CORRÈZE

21 CÔTE-D'OR

23 CREUSE

24 DORDOGNE

25 DOUBS

26 DRÔME

28 EURE-ET-LOIRE

30 GARD

31 HAUTE-GARONNE

32 GERS

36 INDRE

37 INDRE-ET-LOIRE

38 ISÈRE

39 JURA

40 LANDES

41 LOIR-ET-CHER

42 LOIRE

43 HAUTE-LOIRE

44 LOIRE-ATLANTIQUE

45 LOIRET

46 LOT

47 LOT-ET-GARONNE

48 LOZÈRE

49 MAINE-ET-LOIRE

52 HAUTE-MARNE

54 MEURTHE-ET-MOSELLE

55 MEUSE

57 MOSELLE

58 NIÈVRE

63 PUY-DE-DÔME

64 PYRÉNÉES-ATLANTIQUES

65 HAUTES-PYRÉNÉES

67 BAS-RHIN

68 HAUT-RHIN

69 RHÔNE

70 HAUTE-SAÔNE

71 SAÔNE-ET-LOIRE

73 SAVOIE

74 HAUTE-SAVOIE

79 DEUX-SÈVRES

81 TARN

82 TARN-ET-GARONNE

83 VAR

84 VAUCLUSE

85 VENDÉE

86 VIENNE

87 HAUTE-VIENNE

88 VOSGES

89 YONNE

90 TERRITOIRE DE BELFORT

The whole of Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Germany and Spain