[pic] | COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES |

Brussels, 10.6.2008

COM(2008) 346 final

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

amending Decision 2006/493/EC laying down the amount of Community support for rural development for the period from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013, its annual breakdown and the minimum amount to be concentrated in regions eligible under the Convergence Objective

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

Decision 2006/493/EC laying down the amount of Community support for rural development for the period from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013, its annual breakdown and the minimum amount to be concentrated in regions eligible under the Convergence Objective requires amendment in order to take account of the Budgetary Authority's decision to transfer certain commitment appropriations from 2007 to 2008 and subsequent years. These appropriations concern the Romanian Rural Development Programme, thirteen Spanish programmes and one Portuguese programme. These appropriations could not be committed in 2007 due to the late approval of the programmes, which can be explained by various factors connected in particular with the choice of a two-level programming strategy, the late submission of the programming documents on account of the specific institutional constraints of each Member State and the length of certain discussions between the Member States concerned and the Commission departments regarding particular issues. The appropriations relating to these 15 programmes must therefore be reallocated to the period from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2013. The figures included in the Annex to this proposal for a Decision are given at both 2004 prices and current prices.

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

amending Decision 2006/493/EC laying down the amount of Community support for rural development for the period from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013, its annual breakdown and the minimum amount to be concentrated in regions eligible under the Convergence Objective

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 of 20 September 2005 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)[1], and in particular Article 69(1) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission[2],

Whereas:

(1) Council Decision 2006/493/EC of 19 June 2006 laying down the amount of Community support for rural development for the period from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013, its annual breakdown and the minimum amount to be concentrated in regions eligible under the Convergence Objective[3] lays down the amount of Community support for rural development for the period from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013, its annual breakdown and the minimum amount to be concentrated in regions eligible under the Convergence Objective.

(2) Since the Budgetary Authority has decided to transfer certain commitment appropriations for Community support for rural development under Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 which were not used in 2007, in accordance with paragraph 48 of the Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management[4], Decision 2006/493/EC should be amended in order to reallocate those appropriations to the period from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2013.

(3) Decision 2006/493/EC should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

The Annex to Decision 2006/493/EC is replaced by the text in the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2

This Decision shall apply as from budget year 2008.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President

ANNEX

Total amount of commitment appropriations for 2007–13, annual breakdown and minimum amount to be concentratedin regions eligible under the Convergence Objective (*)

2004 prices in EUR (**) | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | Total |

Total amount for EU-25 plus Bulgaria and Romania | 9 325 497 783 | 10 788 767 263 | 10 515 007 756 | 10 278 583 653 | 9 824 886 713 | 9 588 187 168 | 9 356 225 581 | 69 677 155 918 |

Minimum amount for regions eligible under the Convergence Objective | 27 676 975 284 |

Total amount of commitment appropriations for 2007–13, annual breakdown and minimum amount to be concentratedin regions eligible under the Convergence Objective (*)

current prices in EUR (**) | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | Total |

Total amount for EU-25 plus Bulgaria and Romania | 9 896 292 851 | 11 678 108 653 | 11 609 418 209 | 11 575 354 634 | 11 285 706 554 | 11 234 089 442 | 11 181 555 662 | 78 460 526 005 |

Minimum amount for regions eligible under the Convergence Objective | 31 232 644 963 |

(*) Before compulsory modulation and other transfers from market-related expenditure and direct payments of the common agricultural policy to rural development

(**) Amounts are rounded to the nearest euro.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT |

1. | BUDGET HEADING: 05 04 05 01 | 2008 APPROPRIATIONS: CA: EUR 13 274 839 325 (taking account of amending budget No 2 to the 2008 general budget; modulation and transfers under Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003) PA: EUR 9 396 700 000 |

2. | TITLE: Council Decision amending Decision 2006/493/EC laying down the amount of Community support for rural development for the period from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013, its annual breakdown and the minimum amount to be concentrated in regions eligible under the Convergence Objective |

3. | LEGAL BASIS: Article 69(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 |

4. | AIMS: To adapt Decision 2006/493/EC to take account of the reprogramming of appropriations in accordance with paragraph 48 of the Interinstitutional Agreement on budgetary discipline and sound financial management |

5. | FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS (1) | 12-MONTH PERIOD (EUR million) | CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR 2008 (EUR million) | CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR 2008 (EUR million) |

5.0 | EXPENDITURE – CHARGED TO THE EC BUDGET (2004 prices) – NATIONAL AUTHORITIES – OTHER | – | – | CA: PA: | 10 515 7 466 |

5.1 | REVENUE – OWN RESOURCES OF THE EC (LEVIES/CUSTOMS DUTIES) – NATIONAL | – | – | – |

2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 |

5.0.1 | ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE (2004 prices) CA (commitment appropriations) PA (payment appropriations) | 10 279 8 615 | 9 825 8 949 | 9 588 8 949 | 9 356 9 217 |

5.1.1 | ESTIMATED REVENUE | – | – | – | – |

5.2 | METHOD OF CALCULATION: – |

6.0 | CAN THE PROJECT BE FINANCED FROM APPROPRIATIONS ENTERED IN THE RELEVANT CHAPTER OF THE CURRENT BUDGET? | YES NO |

6.1 | CAN THE PROJECT BE FINANCED BY TRANSFER BETWEEN CHAPTERS OF THE CURRENT BUDGET? | YES NO |

6.2 | WILL A SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET BE NECESSARY? | YES NO |

6.3 | WILL APPROPRIATIONS NEED TO BE ENTERED IN FUTURE BUDGETS? | YES NO |

OBSERVATIONS: (1) The transfer of 2007 appropriations to 2008 and subsequent years entails a slight decrease in the overall amount for the 2007-2013 period at 2004 prices. This also applies to the minimum amount for regions eligible under the Convergence Objective. However, the Annex now includes both 2004 prices and current prices in order to provide a full picture. In all cases, the Annex reflects the adaptation of financial envelopes following the reprogramming of unused 2007 appropriations. |

[1] OJ L 277, 21.10.2005, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 146/2008 (OJ L 46, 21.2.2008, p. 1).

[2] OJ C …, …, p. ….

[3] OJ L 195, 15.7.2006, p. 22.

[4] OJ C 139, 14.6.2006, p. 1.