COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
COM(89) 305 final 
Brussels/ 23 June 1989 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
amending Regulation (EEC) No 729/70 on the financing 
of the common agricultural policy 
(presented by the Commission) 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
Following the European Council of 11-12 February 1988 In Brussels and 
according to this Council's decision to establish a realistic timetable 
for clearance of the EAGGF-Guarantee section accounts, the Commission 
has proposed - in the framework of the revision of the financial 
regulation - to put back the deadline for clearing the accounts for 
financial year n from 31/12/n+1 to 15/9/n+2. At the same time It 
proposed to grant Member States a time limit of 6 months from the end of 
the financial year for presenting their annual expenditure declarations. 
In so doing the Commission considers that it had conciliated the basic 
control requirements with the actual possibilities of its own services 
and also those of the Member States. 
The Council of Ministers has not, however, followed up this proposal 
because it feels that the timetable for clearance of the accounts must 
be laid down In Council Regulation N° 729/70 on the financing of the 
common agricultural policy. At present this regulation (article 5, 
paragraph 2b) lays down that the Commission, after consulting the Fund 
committee, clears the accounts of the services and agencies relating to 
financial year n before the end of year n+1. 
3. The amendment to Article 5, paragraph 2b, of Regulation N* 729/70, which 
is the subject of this procedure, consequently takes into account the 
amendment to the time limit for clearance of the accounts already 
proposed by the Commission in the framework of the adaptation of the 
financial regulation and also follows up the request of the European 
Council and the Council of Ministers. 
Regarding the deadline for presentation of annual declarations, 
Article 1, paragraph 2, of Commission Regulation N° 1723/72 on the 
clearance of the EAGGF-Guarantee accounts fixes this date as 31 March of 
the year following that during which expenditure involved had been paid. 
This time limit may be maintained given that for the EAGGF the budgetary 
financial year "n" terminates on 15/10/n. 
5. There are no financial consequences for the Community's budget. The 
proposal has no effects for small and medium-sized entreprises. It is 
solely an administrative matter. 
i 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
amending Regulation (EEC) No 729/70 on the financing 
of the common agricultural policy 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and 
in particular Article 43 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament, 
1 
Whereas Article 5(2) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 729/70 , as last amended 
by Regulation (EEC) No 2048/882, requires that clearance of the EAGGF, Guarantee 
Section, accounts take place at the end of the year following the financial year 
under consideration; whereas experience has shown that this time limit is too 
short; whereas it is appropriate to establish a realistic timetable; 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
Article 1 
Article 5(2) b) of Regulation (EEC) No 729/70 is hereby replaced by the following: 
"b) clears the accounts of the Member States on the basis of the documents 
referred to at paragraph 1 sub-paragraph b), at the latest by 15 September 
of the year following the year during which these documents are transmitted." 
Article 2 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its 
publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in 
all Member States. 
Done at Brussels For the Council 
10J No L 94, 28.4.1970, p. 13. 
20J No L 185, 15.7.1988, p. 1. 
3 
Commission of the European Communities 
COM(89) 305 final 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
amending Regulation (EEC) No 729/70 on the financing of the common 
agricultural policy 
(submitted to the Council by the Commission) 
23.6.1989 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L - 2985 Luxembourg 
Series: DOCUMENTS 
1989 — 3 pp. - Format: 21.0 * 29.7 cm 
EN 
ISSN 0254-1475 
ISBN 92-77-51673-9 
Catalogue number: CB-CO-89-274-EN-C 
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(89) 305 final 
DOCUMENTS 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
amending Regulation (EEC) No 729/70 on the 
financing of the common agricultural policy 
(submitted to the Council by the Commission) 
03 
Catalogue number: CB-CO-89-274-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-51673-9 23.6.1989 
€ 
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES