COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
.JKÏ-
: • r*s •'. If v COM(92) 348 final 
Brussels, 28 July 1992 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
on special measures for farmers affected by 
the 1991/92 drought in Portugal 
(presented by the Commission) 
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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
Portugal suffered a severe drought during the period autumn 1991 to spring 1992 
entailing losses for producers of up to two thirds of their winter cereals 
harvests. The drought also severely affected fodder production, thus causing 
problems for the Portuguese livestock sector. This situation has had a serious 
effect on the incomes of the Portuguese producers concerned. 
In order to remedy the situation the Portuguese Government has requested 
compensatory aid schemes to be introduced. 
In the case of cereals, it is proposed to authorize the Portuguese Republic to 
grant aid per hectare to compensate for yield losses up to a maximum which will 
vary according to the cereal concerned. 
In the case of the livestock sector, it is proposed to authorize the Portuguese 
Republic to grant aid to supplement the existing Community premiums for farmers 
with suckler cows, ewes and she-goats and aid for small milk producers and 
producers holding horses. 
It is proposed that the EAGGF make a financial contribution to the aids, 
excepting the aid for producers holding horses, which is to be financed from the 
national budget. That contribution will not exceed the amounts entered for the 
purpose in the budget. The Commission contemplates proposing a limit of ECU 
(agricultural) 35 million for the cereals sector and ECU 47 million for the 
Iivestock sector. 
This draft package of measures has no impact on small and medium-sized 
enterpr ises. 
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Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
on special measures for farmers affected by 
the 1991/92 drought in Portugal 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, 
and in particular Articles 42 and 43 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission1, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament2, 
Whereas Portugal suffered a severe drought between autumn 1991 and spring 
1992 resulting in cereals harvest losses which may be almost total in 
certain regions, and in particularly high additional costs for the feeding 
of cattle, sheep, goats and/or horses in certain regions; whereas, in order 
to mitigate the resulting loss of income to the producers concerned, 
special aid schemes should be provided for; whereas the detailed rules for 
such schemes should be laid down; 
Whereas the spring drought has a smaller effect on late-harvest cereals, 
such as maize and sorghum-, whereas the aid should accordingly be restricted 
to winter cereals; whereas durum wheat already benefits from large amounts 
of aid per hectare independent of output; whereas the aid should therefore 
be restricted to common wheat, barley, rye and triticale; 
Whereas, in the case of cereals, the compensation should be restricted to 
producers with low productivity; whereas compensation payable to such 
producers should be determined on the basis of their production losses and 
the production costs for the various cereals; 
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Whereas, in the case of stockfarmers, provision should be made for special 
aid for producers holding suckler cows, ewes and she-goats, and for small 
milk producers in the regions affected; whereas the aid should be limited 
to an amount sufficient to offset expenditure on the purchase of fodder 
supplements during the period when, in normal years, there is sufficient 
grass growth to supply the basic feed needs of the animals concerned; 
Whereas, as regards compensation to stockfarmers for additional costs, a 
list of regions should be drawn up according to the severity of the drought 
therein, on the basis of the shortage of rainfall compared with normal 
levels and the effects of exceptionally high temperatures; whereas the 
maximum aid authorized should be limited in accordance with the severity of 
the drought and on the basis of the animal species concerned; 
Whereas, in order to allow speedy payment of the aid, the Community suckler 
cow, ewe and she-goat premiums granted to individual farmers for the 1991 
marketing year should be taken as the reference figure; whereas, however, 
provision should be made for new producers who did not submit an 
application for the 1991 marketing year; 
Whereas the economic consequences of the drought could slow down the 
integration of Portuguese agriculture into the common organization of the 
markets; whereas, in order to support Portuguese efforts to overcome the 
difficulties, the EAGGF Guarantee Section should make a financial 
contribution not exceeding the appropriations entered for the purpose in 
the budget to the aid in question; 
Whereas the Portuguese authorities should be authorized to grant aid from 
the national budget for producers holding horses in the regions most 
severely affected by the drought, 
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HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
TITLE I 
Measures to assist cereals producers 
Article 1 
1. Portugal is authorized to grant special aid to producers of common 
wheat, barley, rye and triticale particularly affected by the drought 
in Portugal during the period covering autumn 1991 to spring 1992. 
2. Cereals producers who obtained an average per hectare of less than 
1 000 kg of common wheat, 850 kg of barley and triticale and 650 kg 
of rye on their holdings in 1992 shall be considered to be 
particularly affected. 
Article 2 
Farmers who have submitted a crop declaration under the special aid scheme 
provided for in Council Regulation (EEC) No 3653/903 and, in duly 
substantiated cases, other farmers who can prove that their cereals crops 
have been affected shall be eligible for the aid. 
Article 3 
1. The aid per hectare shall not exceed: 
ECU 215/ha for common wheat; 
ECU 165/ha for barley and triticale; and 
ECU 120/ha for rye. 
2. The aid must be granted in such a way that producers particularly 
affected who have obtained an output per cereal of less than the 
quantities specified in Article 1(2) shall be entitled to part 
thereof. In that case the amounts stated in paragraph 1 shall be 
reduced in proportion to the difference between the actual yield 
obtained and the figures specified in Article 1(2). 
0J No L 362, 27.12.1990, p. 28. 
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Article 4 
Where necessary, the detailed rules for giving efect to this Title, in 
particular those relating to controls, shall be laid down in accordance 
with the procedure set out in Article 26 of Regulation (EEC) No 2727/7S4. 
Title 11 
Measures to assist stockfarmors 
Article 5 
Portugal is authorized to introduce a scheme for special drought aid for 
producers holding suck 1er cows, dairy cows, ewes and she-goats in regions 
affected by the severe drought in Portugal during the period covering 
autumn 1991 to spring 1992 who undertake to keep the herd or flock until at 
least 31 December 1992. 
For the purposes of this Regulation: 
the particularly affected regions shall be as listed in Annex I; 
the very severely affected regions shall be as listed in Annex li; 
the severely affected regions shall be as listed in Annex III. 
Article 6 
Where Article 5 applies, special drought aid may be granted to producers 
holding suckler cows who received, for 1991, the suckler cow premium 
introduced by Council Regulation (EEC) No 1357/805. 
When the number of suckler cows held at 1 September 1992: 
is equal to the number for which the premium was paid for 1991, the 
aid may be granted for no more than that number of animals; 
is less than the number for which the premium was paid for 1991, the 
aid shall be granted for that lower number; 
4 OJ No L 281, 1.11.1975, p. 1. 
5 OJ No L 140, 5.6.1980, p. 1. 
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is greater than the number for which the premium was paid for 1991, 
the aid shall be granted for that higher number, provided that the 
animals were already held at 1 January 1992 and subject to 
appropriate checks by the competent authorities. 
Aid may also be paid to producers holding suckler cows as referred to in 
Article 5 who did not receive the suckler cow premium for the 1991 
marketing year but who can prove to the satisfaction of the competent 
authority that they actually held suckler cows eligible under Regulation 
(EEC) No 1357/80 at least for the period 1 January to 1 September 1992. 
The aid may be paid for no more than that number of suckler cows. 
Article 7 
Where Article 5 applies, special drought aid may be granted to producers 
delivering or directly selling milk or milk products whose individual 
reference quantities as referred to in Article 5(c) of Regulation (EEC) 
No 804/686 are not more than 60 000 kg. The aid shall be granted only to 
producers within the particularly affected regions or very severely 
affected regions referred to in Article 5 who can prove to the satisfaction 
of the competent authority that they actually held dairy cows at least for 
the period 1 January to 1 September 1992. The aid shall be granted for no 
more than that number of dairy cows. The total number of dairy cows 
eligible for the aid shall not in any case exceed 17. 
Article 8 
Where Article 5 applies, special drought aid may be granted to producers 
holding ewes and/or she-goats who have received the premium referred to in 
Article 5 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3013/897 for the 1992 marketing 
year. The aid may be granted for no more than the number of eligible ewes 
and/or she-goats subject to an appropriate check by the competent 
author it les. 
6 OJ No L 148, 28.6.1968, p. 13. 
7 0J No L 289, 7.10.1989, p. 1. 
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Article 9 
1. The special drought aid shall not exceed: 
(a) in particularly affected regions, ECU 145 per suck 1er cow, 
ECU 14.5 per ewe and ECU 14.5 per she-goat; 
(b) in very severely affected regions, ECU 110 per suck 1er cow, 
ECU 11 per ewe and ECU 11 per she-goat; 
(c) in severely affected regions, the amounts at (b) less 32%; 
(d) in particularly or very severely affected regions, ECU 75 per 
dairy cow. 
2. If the animals were not present for the whole of the period 1 January 
to 1 May 1992 in the regions referred to in Article 5, the maximum 
amounts set out in paragraph 1 shall be reduced in proportion to the 
time during which they were present. 
^ Article 10 
Where necessary, the Commission may lay down detailed rules to give effect 
^~ to this Title in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 27 of 
Council Regulation (EEC) No 805/688 in the case of suckler cows, 
Article 30 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 804/68 in the case of dairy cows 
and Article 30 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3013/89 in the case of ewes 
and/or she-goats. 
TITLE III 
Other provisions 
Article 11 
In addition to the special drought aid, Portugal is authorized to grant, 
from the national budget, aid not exceeding ECU 110 per breeding horse more 
than 12 years old in particularly and very severely affected regions. 
8 0J No L 148, 24.8.1968, p. 4. 
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Article 12 
1. The Community shall make a financial contribution not exceeding the 
appropriations entered for the purpose in the budget to the aid 
provided for in Titles I and II of this Regulation. The aid shall be 
deemed intervention within the meaning of Article 1(2) of Council 
Regulation (EEC) No 729/709. 
2. The aid referred to in paragraph 1 shall be converted using the 
agricultural conversion rate applicable on 1 July 1992. 
Article 13 
Portugal shall take the measures necessary to ensure that the aid provided 
for in this Regulation is paid to those eligible only. The measures shall 
include appropriate penalties in the case of aid applications containing 
false information deliberately or as a result of gross negligence. 
Portugal shall inform the Commission of measures taken to give effect to 
this Article. 
Article 14 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its 
application in the Official Journal of the European Communities. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in 
a 11 Member States. 
Done at Brussels, For the Council 
The President 
OJ No L 94, 28.4.1970, p. 13. 
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ANNEX I 
Regions particularly affected by the drought 
Alentejo Region 
- Agricultural zone*** 61 
- Concelho*. Mourâo 
ANNEX 11 
Regions very severely affected by the drought 
Beira Interior Region 
- Agricultural zones 33, 34, 35, 36 (except for Fornos de Algodres), 37, 38 and 
39 
RibateJo and Oeste Region 
- Concelho: Gaviâo 
Alentejo Region 
- Agricultural zones 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58 (except for Mourâo), 59 and 60 
Algarve Region 
- Agricultural zones 64, 65 (except for Faro and Olhao) and 66 
- ConceI ho : S11ves 
ANNEX I I I 
Regions severely affected by the drought 
Tràs-os-Montes Region 
- Agricultural zones 12, 13, 20 (except for s. Joao de Pesqueira) and 21 (except 
for Carrazeda de Ansiâes) 
- Concelho: Macedo de Cavaleiros 
Beira Interior Region 
- Agricultural zone 40 
- Concelho: Fornos de Algodres 
Beira Litoral Region 
- Agricultural zones 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 
Ribatejo and Oeste Region 
- Agricultural zones 47, 48, 49 and 50 (except for Gaviâo) 
- Concelhos: Santarem, Cartaxo and Monti Jo 
Alentejo region 
- Agricultural zones 51 and 52 
Algarve Region 
- Agricultural zones 62, 63 (except for Si Ives) and 65 (except for Castro Marin) 
(*) Under D.L. 46/89 of 15 February 1989. 
11 
i. BUDGET HEADING: 102 
2129 
2229 APPROPRIATIONS: ECU 1 093 mi iI ion 
p.m. 
p.m. 
2. TITLE: Special treasures for Portuguese farmers affected by the 1991/92 drougit 
3. LEGAL BASIS: 
EEC Treaty, and in particular Articles 42 and 43 thereof 
4. AIMS OF PROJECT: 
Ccmpensation for loss of income suffered by Portuguese farmers as a result of the 1991/92 drought 
5. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 
5.0 EXPENDITURE 
- CHARGED TO THE EC BUDGET 
- (REFUOS/ INTERVENT ION) 
- NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION 
-OTHER 
5.1 REVENUE 
- OWN RESOURCES OF THE EC 
(LEVIES/CUSTOMS DUTIES) 
- NATIONAL 
5.0.1 ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE 
5.1.1 ESTIMATED REVENUE Period of 12 months 
(ECUm) 
93 Current Financial Year 
1992 (ECU m) 
49 Following Financial Year 
1993 (ECU m) 
49 
1994 1995 1996 1997 
5.2 METHOD OF CALCULATION: 
ECU (35 + 47) m(A) x 1 192 (DR) - ECU 96 m 
1992 (509É) - ECU 49 m 
1993 (50%) - ECU 49 m 
6.0 CAN THc. PROJECT BE FINANCED FROM APPROPRIATIONS ENTERED IN THE RELEVANT CHAPTER OF THE CURRENT BUDGET? 
(1) NO 
6.1 CAN THE PROJECT BE FINANCED BY TRANSFtR BETWEEN CHAPTERS OF THE CURRENT BUDGET? 
YES 
6.2 IS A SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET NECESSARY? 
6.3 WILL FUTURE BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS BE NECESSARY? ND 
ND 
OBSERVAT IONS: 
I As a result of the drought in Portugal, only around 50% of the appropriations for special aid for Portuguese 
• producers wi iI be required - ECU 42 mi i Mon according to the latest estimate of expenditure for such aid 
during the 1992/93 marketing year. 
(1) Financing possible under Chapters 10 and 21. 

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ISSN 0254-1475 
COM (92) 348 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 03 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-92-365-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-46998-6 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
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