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COMMISSION DECISION

of 14 January 1983

on the clearance of the accounts presented by the French Republic in respect of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund, Guarantee Section, expenditure for 1977

(Only the French text is authentic)

(83/46/EEC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN

COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 729/70 of 21 April 1970 on the financing of the common agricultural policy (1), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3509/80 (2), and in particular Article 5 (2) thereof,

After consulting the Fund Committee;

Whereas, under Article 5 (2) (b) of Regulation (EEC) No 729/70, the Commission, on the basis of the annual accounts presented by the Member States, clears the accounts of the authorities and bodies referred to in Article 4 of that Regulation;

Whereas France has transmitted to the Commission the documents required to clear the accounts for 1977; whereas the latter has carried out on-the-spot inspection as provided for in Article 9 (2) of Regulation (EEC) No 729/70;

Whereas Article 8 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1723/72 of 26 July 1972 on the clearance of the accounts of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund, Guarantee Section (3), provides that the Decision to clear the accounts must include the determination of the amount of expenditure incurred in each Member State during the financial year in question recognized as chargeable to the Fund, Guarantee Section, and also the determination of the amount of the Community's financial resources still available in each Member State;

Whereas, under Articles 2 and 3 of Regulation (EEC) No 729/70, only refunds on exports to non-member countries and intervention intended to stabilize agricultural markets, respectively granted and undertaken according to Community rules within the framework of the common organization of agricultural markets, may be financed; whereas the inspections carried out show that a part of the expenditure declared amounting to FF 230 969 957,55 does not satisfy the requirements of these provisions and therefore cannot be financed; whereas the Member State has been fully informed of this deduction and has been able to give its views thereon;

Whereas the unrecognized expenditure includes an amount of FF 210 985 409,27 for the wine sector on which no final decision can be taken in the course of this clearance operation because an additional investigation is first necessary; whereas it may be possible to recognize this amount when the accounts for 1978 are cleared;

Whereas under Council Regulation (EEC) No 1078/77 of 17 May 1977 introducing a system of premiums for the non-marketing of milk and milk products and for the conversion of dairy herds (4), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1365/80 (5), 60 % of expenditure on those measures is borne by the Guarantee Section of the EAGGF and 40 % by the Guidance Section; whereas the said measures count as intervention within the meaning of Article 3 of Regulation (EEC) No 729/70 and constitute a common measure within the meaning of Article 6 (1) of that Regulation; whereas it is therefore necessary to include Guidance Section expenditure when clearing the accounts in respect of expenditure financed by the EAGGF;

Whereas this Decision is without prejudice to the outcome of inquiries under way in the fruit and vegetables sector,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

1. The expenditure by France recognized as chargeable to the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund, Guarantee Section, in respect of the 1977 financial year amounts, in accordance with Annex I, to FF 8 524 932 437,32.

2. The expenditure recognized as chargeable to the EAGGF pursuant to Regulation (EEC) No 1078/77 amounts, in accordance with Annex II, to FF 276 564,00.

Article 2

The financial resources available at the end of 1977 amount, in accordance with Annex I, to FF 1 872 384 143,94, and in accordance with Annex II to FF 49 711 146,00.

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to the French Republic.

Done at Brussels, 14 January 1983.

For the Commission

Poul DALSAGER

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ No L 94, 28. 4. 1970, p. 13.

(2) OJ No L 367, 31. 12. 1980, p. 87.

(3) OJ No L 186, 16. 8. 1972, p. 1.

(4) OJ No L 131, 26. 5. 1977, p. 1.

(5) OJ No L 140, 5. 6. 1980, p. 18.

ANNEX I

Clearance of the accounts concerning the expenditure financed by the EAGGF, Guarantee Section, for 1977

1.2,3 // // (FF) // 1.2.3 // 1. Funds available after clearance of the accounts for 1976 // // 979 632 017,26 // 2. Advances received for 1977 // // 9 417 684 564,00 // 3. Total funds available to cover expenditure for 1977 // // 10 397 316 581,26 // 4. Expenditure recognized for 1977 (1): // // // (a) Expenditure declared // 8 755 902 394,87 // // (b) Expenditure not recognized: // 230 969 957,55 // // - of which elimination of reserves for 1976 // - // // - of which definitive decision deferred to 1978 // 210 985 409,27 // // (c) Expenditure recognized // // 8 524 932 437,32 // 5. Funds available after clearance of the accounts for 1977 // // 1 872 384 143,94

(1) Excluding expenditure on measures under Regulation (EEC) No 1078/77.

ANNEX II

Clearance of the accounts concerning the expenditure financed by the EAGGF under Regulation (EEC) No 1078/77 for 1977

1.2,3 // // (FF) // 1.2.3 // 1. Advances received for 1977 // // 49 987 710,00 // 2. Expenditure incurred in 1977 chargeable to the EAGGF // // 276 564,00 // of which: // // // (a) Guarantee Section // 165 938,40 // // (b) Guidance Section // 110 625,60 // // 3. Funds available after clearance of the accounts for 1977 // // 49 711 146,00