Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 3493/90 laying down general rules for the grant of premiums to sheepmeat and goatmeat producers
Date: 2000-11-21
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: aid to agriculture, animal production, goatmeat, less-favoured agricultural area, sheepmeat

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 21.11.2000
COM(2000) 740 final

Proposal for a

COUNCIL REGULATION

amending Regulation (EEC) No 3493/90 laying down general rules
for the grant of premiums to sheepmeat and goatmeat producers

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

The present definition of a 'producer in a less-favoured area' as provided for in Regulation
(EEC) No 3493/90 has given rise to problems of interpretation, in particular with regard to
those producers whose holdings are not entirely situated within a less-favoured area (LFA).
The present definition states that the 50% of the land of the holding, which is in the LFA must
also be used for rearing sheep and/or goats. This has created problems of eligibility for mixed
farms in particular and has increased the complexity of controls because it is necessary to
determine the use of the land by checking that the animals have been physically present. The
proposal simplifies the definition by establishing one condition that more than 50% of the
area of the holding used for agriculture should be in the less-favoured area.

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Proposal for a

COUNCIL REGULATION

amending Regulation (EEC) No 3493/90 laying down general rules
for the grant of premiums to sheepmeat and goatmeat producers

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2467/98 of 3 November 1998 on the common
organisation of the market in sheepmeat and goatmeat1, and in particular Article 5(8) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission2,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

Council Regulation (EEC) No 1323/90 of 14 May 1990 instituting specific aid for
sheep and goat farming in certain less-favoured areas of the Community3 provides for
a flat-rate payment to sheep and goat producers in less-favoured areas to compensate
them for the unfavourable consequences of measures introduced to limit the granting
of the ewe premium.

Council Regulation (EEC) No 3493/904 provides for a definition of a producer in a
less-favoured area. This definition has given rise to problems of interpretation and has
also made checks difficult by obliging the physical presence of animals on the land to
be verified. It is necessary to make the rules easier for farmers to understand and to
simplify checks. Therefore the definition of a producer in a less-favoured area should
be amended.

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

1

2

3

4

OJ L 312, 20.11.1998, p. 1. Regulation amended by Regulation (EC) No 1669/2000 (OJ L 193,
29.7.2000, p. 8).
OJ C , p. .
OJ L 132, 23.05.1990, p. 17. Regulation last amended by Regulation (EC) No 193/98 (OJ L 20,
27.1.1998 p. 18).
OJ L 337,4.12.1990, p. 7. Regulation last amended by Regulation (EC) No 233/94 (OJ L 30, 3.2.1994
p. 9).

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Article 2(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 3493/90 is replaced by:

Article 1

"2.

'Producer in a less-favoured area' means any producer of sheepmeat or goatmeat
whose holding is located in the areas defined pursuant to Article 17 of Council
Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on support for rural development
from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and
amending and repealing certain regulations*, or whose holding has at least 50% of its
area which is used for agriculture situated in such areas.

_______________

*

OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 80."

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following 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
The President

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FINANCIAL STATEMENT

1.

2.

3.

4.

BUDGET HEADING:
2221

TITLE:

APPROPRIATIONS:
EUR 362 million (2001 DB)

Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 3493/90 laying down general rules for the grant of
premiums to sheepmeat and goatmeat producers.

LEGAL BASIS: Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 2467/98

AIMS OF PROJECT:

With a view to avoiding problems of interpretation, it seeks to simplify the definition of “producer in a
less-favoured area” for producers on whose farms at least 50% of the utilised agricultural area is located
in less-favoured areas.

5.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

5.0.

5.1.

CHARGED TO THE EC BUDGET

EXPENDITURE
-
(REFUNDS/INTERVENTION)
-
-

NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION
OTHER

OWN RESOURCES OF THE EC

REVENUE
-
(LEVIES/CUSTOMS DUTIES)
-

NATIONAL

5.0.1.
5.1.1.

ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE
ESTIMATED REVENUE

5.2.

METHOD OF CALCULATION:

PERIOD OF
12 MONTHS

(EUR million)

CURRENT
FINANCIAL
YEAR
(2001)
(EUR million)

FOLLOWING
FINANCIAL
YEAR
(2002)
(EUR million)

p.m.

p.m.

p.m.

-

-

-

2003

p.m.
-

2004

p.m.
-

2005

p.m.
-

2006

p.m.
-

6.0.

6.1.

6.2.

6.3.

CAN THE PROJECT BE FINANCED FROM APPROPRIATIONS ENTERED IN
THE RELEVANT CHAPTER OF THE CURRENT BUDGET?

CAN THE PROJECT BE FINANCED BY TRANSFER BETWEEN CHAPTERS OF
THE CURRENT BUDGET?

IS A SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET NECESSARY?

WILL FUTURE BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS BE NECESSARY?

YES / NO

YES / NO

YES / NO

YES / NO

OBSERVATIONS:

The measure could relate to a maximum of 5 000 animals. The additional cost will be EUR 0.033 million.

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