Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 2019/93 introducing specific measures for the smaller Aegean islands concerning certain agricultural products (COM(2001) 638 final — 2001/0260(CNS))
Date: 2002-03-26
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Aegean Islands, agricultural product, aid per hectare, aid system, supply, supply balance sheet

C 75 E/46

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

26.3.2002

Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 2019/93 introducing specific
measures for the smaller Aegean islands concerning certain agricultural products

(2002/C 75 E/06)

COM(2001) 638 final (cid:151) 2001/0260(CNS)

(Submitted by the Commission on 7 November 2001)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community, and in particular Articles 36 and 37 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,

Having regard to the opinion of
Committee,

the Economic and Social

Whereas:

the Commission must

(1) Under Article 15 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2019/93
of 19 July 1993 introducing specific measures for the
smaller Aegean islands concerning certain agricultural
products (1)
submit an annual
report to Parliament and the Council on the implemen-
tation of the measures and, at the end of the third year of
application of the specific supply arrangements, a general
report on the economic situation of the Aegean islands,
showing the impact of the measures taken. These reports
are to be accompanied, where necessary, by appropriate
proposals for amendments and changes to the measures
provided for in that Regulation.

(2) Analysis of the implementation of these measures points
to the need for appropriate adjustments and changes,
taking into account the results and experience gathered
and the evolution of the context in which these measures
have been applied. Council Regulation (EEC) No 2019/93
should therefore be amended accordingly.

(3) In particular,

the specific supply arrangements have
proved to be poorly suited to the milk products
(yoghurt) and sugar sectors, especially as regards passing
on the advantages to the end user, while in the fruit and
vegetables sector the arrangements expired at the end of
1997. These products should therefore be removed from
the specific supply arrangements. The groups of islands
should also be redefined on the basis of their distance
from the usual ports of shipment in mainland Greece,
taking into account supplies to the islands of final desti-
nation from islands of transit and of loading.

(4) The

of

the

specific

economic

advantages

supply
arrangements must not provoke deflections of trade in
the products concerned. Re-dispatching or re-exporting
these products
concerned should
therefore be prohibited.
In the case of processing, this
prohibition should not apply to traditional exports and
consignments.

from the

islands

(5) The support measures for local products introduced by
Regulation (EEC) No 2019/93 for the private storage of
certain local cheeses, programmes of initiatives for fruit,
vegetables and flowers, and the ageing of locally produced
liqueur wines have been shown to be poorly suited to the
situation in these sectors on the Aegean islands due in
particular to the short storage periods for the cheeses and
liqueur wines and thus the negligible impact of the aid,
and to the complexity of procedures and the way the
proposed aid for
fruit, vegetables and flowers was
structured. This aid should not therefore be renewed.

(6) In order to continue to support traditional cattle farming
in these islands, on the one hand, the stability of the
specific
special premium should be
number of male bovines also in receipt of the supplement
to the special premium and the grant of the supplement
to the suckler cow premium should be continued and, on
the other, reference should be made to the new regulatory
framework for the common organisation of the market in
this sector since 1999.

ensured for

a

(7) As regards the continued grant of aid for the cultivation
of vines for the production of quality wines psr in the
traditional areas of production, the references to the legis-
lation on the common organisation of the market in this
sector since 1999 should be updated.

and

(8) For the purposes of continuing to grant aid to traditional
beekeeping
continued
contributing
improvement of quality in this sector, the activities of
recognised
be
of
encouraged and the number of hives eligible for such
aid should be updated.

associations

beekeepers

should

the

to

(9) Since the measures needed to implement this Regulation
are management measures within the meaning of Article
2 of Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999
laying
exercise of
implementing powers conferred on the Commission (2),
they should be adopted by the management procedure
provided for in Article 4 of that Decision.

down the procedures

the

for

(1) OJ L 184, 27.7.1993, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation

(EC) No 1257/1999 (OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 80).

(2) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.

26.3.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 75 E/47

(10) Article 13 of Regulation (EEC) No 2019/93, providing for
derogations applicable to structural measures, has been
repealed by 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 Regu-
lations (1). The
and
processing and marketing firms in the Aegean islands
are
specific difficulties.
Provision should therefore be made for derogations for
certain types of investments from the provisions limiting
the grant of some structural aid provided for in Regu-
lation (EC) No 1257/1999,

seriously defective and face

certain holdings

structures of

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Regulation (EEC) No 2019/93 is hereby amended as follows:

1. Articles 2 and 3 are replaced by the following:

(cid:145)Article 2

Specific supply arrangements are hereby introduced for the
agricultural products listed in the Annex to this Regu-
lation, which are essential for human consumption and
as
smaller
inputs
Aegean islands.

in agricultural production in the

A forecast supply balance shall be drawn up stating the
quantity of the agricultural products referred to in the
above paragraph needed to meet supply requirements
each year.

Article 3

1.
Under the specific supply arrangements, aid shall be
granted for the supply to the smaller Aegean islands of the
products referred to in Article 2.

The amount of aid shall be fixed for a group of islands
taking into consideration the additional costs of marketing
products in these islands, calculated from the usual ports
of shipment in mainland Greece, and from the ports of
islands of transit or of
loading for the islands of final
destination.

90 % of the amount of the aid shall be financed by the
Community and 10 % by the Member State in question.

(c)

the economic aspect of the proposed aid,

(d) where applicable,

the need not

to obstruct

the

potential development of local products.

A condition for benefiting from the specific supply
the advantages are actually

3.
arrangements shall be that
passed on to the end user.

4.
Products covered by the specific supply arrangements
may not be re-exported to third countries or re-dispatched
to the rest of the Community.

5. Where the products referred to in paragraph 1 are
processed in the smaller Aegean islands, the prohibition
referred to in paragraph 5 shall not apply to traditional
the processed
exports or
shipments of
to traditional
In the case of
products to the rest of the Community.
traditional exports, no refund shall be granted.(cid:146)

2. The following Article 3a is added:

(cid:145)Article 3a

1.
Detailed rules for applying this Title shall be adopted
in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article
13a(2). They shall cover in particular:

(a) the grouping of the smaller Aegean islands on the basis
of their distance from the usual ports of shipment in
mainland Greece, and in relation to the ports of islands
of transit or of loading from which the islands of final
destination are usually supplied;

(b) the fixing of

the amount of aid under the specific

supply arrangements;

(c)

the provisions to ensure effective monitoring and that
the advantages are actually passed on to the end user;

(d) the introduction, if necessary, of a system of delivery

licences.

2.
The Commission shall draw up supply balances in
accordance with the procedure referred to in Article
13a(2).
It may revise those balances, and the list of
in accordance with the same
products in the Annex,
procedure, in the light of changes in the requirements of
the smaller Aegean islands.(cid:146)

In implementing the specific supply arrangements,

2.
account shall be taken, in particular, of the following:

3. Article 4 is deleted.

(a) the specific needs of the smaller Aegean islands and the

4. Article 6 is replaced by the following:

precise quality requirements,

(b) traditional trade flows with ports in mainland Greece

and between the islands,

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 80.

1.
The aid provided for in this Article shall be granted
to assist traditional livestock farming activities in the beef
and veal sector.

(cid:145)Article 6

C 75 E/48

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

26.3.2002

Fattening aid for male bovine animals, equal to an
2.
additional EUR 48.3/head on top of the special premium
in Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC)
provided for
No 1254/1999 on the common organisation of
the
market in beef and veal (1), shall be granted to beef and
veal producers.

The supplement may be granted for an animal of a
minimum weight to be determined in accordance with
the procedure referred to in Article 13a(2), up to a limit
of 12 000 male bovines per year within the regional
ceiling set
in Article 4(1) and (4) of Regulation (EC)
No 1254/1999. The proportionate reduction referred to
in Article 4(4) of that Regulation shall not apply within
that limit.

A supplement

3.
to the premium for maintaining
suckler cows provided for in Article 6 of Regulation (EC)
No 1254/1999 shall be paid to beef and veal producers
each year. The amount of
shall be
EUR 48.3 per suckler cow held by the producer on the
day on which the application is submitted.

supplement

this

Detailed rules for applying paragraphs 1, 2 and 3
4.
shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure
referred to in Article 13a(2). They may also provide for
an amendment of the limit referred to in paragraph 2.

___________
(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 21.(cid:146)

5. Article 7 is deleted.

6. Article 8 is replaced by the following:

(cid:145)Article 8

1.
Aid per hectare shall be granted for the cultivation of
potatoes for human consumption falling within CN codes
0701 90 50 and 0701 90 90 and for the cultivation of seed
potatoes falling within CN code 0701 10 00, up to a limit
of 3 200 hectares cultivated and harvested per year.

The amount of the aid shall be not more than EUR 603
per hectare.

Detailed rules

2.
for applying this Article shall be
adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in
Article 13a(2).(cid:146)

Article

of
in
No 1493/1999 (1), and

19

Council

Regulation

(EC)

(b) areas where the yield per hectare is lower than a
State,
fixed by
maximum to be
expressed as quantities of grapes, grape musts or
wine, under the terms of Annex VI.I to Regulation
(EC) No 1493/1999.

the Member

The amount of the aid shall be EUR 476 per hectare
2.
per year. The aid shall be granted exclusively to producer
groups or organisations initiating a measure to improve
the quality of the wines produced in accordance with a
programme approved by the competent authorities; the
for
programme
improving vinification, storage and distribution conditions.

in particular means

include

shall

Chapter II of Title II of Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999

3.
shall not apply to the smaller Aegean islands.

Detailed rules

4.
for applying this Article shall be
adopted as necessary in accordance with the procedure
referred to in Article 13a(2).

___________
(1) OJ L 179, 14.7.1999, p. 1.(cid:146)

8. Article 10 is deleted.

9. Article 11 is replaced by the following:

(cid:145)Article 11

1.
Aid per hectare shall be granted for the maintenance
of olive groves in traditional olive-growing zones, provided
that
and maintained in good
the groves
production conditions.

are kept

The amount of the aid shall be EUR 145 per hectare per
year.

Detailed rules

2.
for applying this Article shall be
adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in
Article 13a(2). In particular they shall fix the conditions for
the application of
the aid arrangements referred to in
paragraph 1, the conditions for proper maintenance of
olive groves and the control provisions.(cid:146)

10. Article 12 is replaced by the following:

7. Article 9 is replaced by the following:

(cid:145)Article 12

(cid:145)Article 9

Aid per hectare shall be granted for the continued
1.
cultivation of vines for the production of quality wines psr
in the traditional areas of production.

The following areas shall be eligible for aid:

(a) areas planted to vine varieties included among the
varieties classified by the Member States as being
suitable for the production of each of
the quality
wines psr produced in their territory, as referred to

1.
Aid shall be granted for the production of honey of
specific quality from the smaller Aegean islands, containing
a large proportion of thyme honey.

in production,

hives
recognised by the

the number of
The aid shall be paid, on the basis of
of
associations
registered
authorities
beekeepers
which undertake to implement annual programmes of
initiatives designed to improve the conditions under
which quality honey is produced.

competent

to

The amount of the aid shall be EUR 12 per hive per year.

26.3.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 75 E/49

The aid referred to in paragraph 1 shall be granted

2.
for up to 75 000 hives per year.

The period referred to in Article 4(3) of Decision

3.
1999/468/EC shall be one month.

Detailed rules

3.
for applying this Article shall be
adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in
Article 13a(2).(cid:146)

11. Article 13 is replaced by the following:

___________
(1) OJ L 181, 1.7.1992, p. 21.
(2) OJ L 151, 30.6.1968, p. 16.
(3) OJ L 175, 4.8.1971, p. 1.(cid:146)

(cid:145)Article 13

13. Article 14 is replaced by the following:

1.
Notwithstanding Article 7 of Regulation (EC)
No 1257/1999, the total value of the aid, expressed as a
percentage of the volume of eligible investments, may be
increased by a maximum 15 percentage points
for
investments intended in particular to encourage diversifi-
cation, restructuring or a move towards sustainable agri-
culture on agricultural holdings in the smaller Aegean
islands.

Notwithstanding Article 28(2) of Regulation (EC)
2.
No 1257/1999, the total value of the aid, expressed as a
percentage of the volume of eligible investments, shall not
exceed 65 % for investments in small and medium-sized
enterprises engaged in processing and marketing agri-
cultural products consisting mainly of
local produce in
sectors to be defined in the programme complement
referred to in Article 18(3) of Council Regulation (EC)
No 1260/1999 (1).

The measures planned under this Article shall be
the operational programmes as
(EC)

3.
described as part of
referred
Regulation
to
No 1260/1999 covering the smaller Aegean islands.

in Article

18

of

___________
(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999, p. 1.(cid:146)

12. The following Article 13a is added:

(cid:145)Article 13a

1.
The Commission shall be assisted by the Management
Committee for Cereals established by Article 22 of Council
Regulation (EEC) No 1766/92 (1), or by the management
committees established by the regulations on the common
organisations of the market for the products concerned.

In the case of agricultural products covered by Council
Regulation (EEC) No 827/68 (2) and products not covered
by a common organisation of the market, the Commission
shall be assisted by the Management Committee for Hops
established by Article 20 of Council Regulation (EEC)
No 1696/71 (3).

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph,
management procedure
Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply,
Article 7 thereof.

the
laid down in Article 4 of
in compliance with

(cid:145)Article 14

The measures provided for in this Regulation, except for
Article 13,
intervention intended to
stabilise the agricultural markets within the meaning of
Article 2(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 (1).

constitute

shall

___________
(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 103.(cid:146)

14. The following Article 14a is added:

(cid:145)Article 14a

The Member States shall take the measures necessary to
ensure compliance with this Regulation,
in particular as
regards controls and administrative penalties, and shall
inform the Commission thereof.

Detailed rules for applying this Article shall be adopted in
accordance with the procedure referred to in Article
13a(2).(cid:146)

15. Article 15 is replaced by the following:

(cid:145)Article 15

Greece

1.
shall present
Commission on the implementation of
provided for in this Regulation.

an annual

report

to the
the measures

2.
At the end of every five-year period of implemen-
tation of the measures provided for in this Regulation, the
Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and
the Council a general report on the impact of the measures
to this Regulation, accompanied where
taken pursuant
appropriate by proposals concerning any adjustments
which may prove necessary.

The first report shall be presented before the end of 2005.(cid:146)

16. The Annex is replaced by the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth 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.

C 75 E/50

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

26.3.2002

ANNEX

(cid:145)ANNEX

LIST OF PRODUCTS COVERED BY THE SPECIFIC SUPPLY ARRANGEMENTS UNDER TITLE I FOR THE
SMALLER AEGEAN ISLANDS

Description

Wheat flour

Feedingstuffs

(cid:151) Cereals

Wheat

Rye

Barley

Oats

(cid:151) Maize

(cid:151) Alfalfa and fodder

(cid:151) Food industry wastes and residues

(cid:151) Preparations of a kind used in animal feed

CN code

1101 and 1102

1001

1002

1003

1004

1005

1214

2302 to 2308

2309 90(cid:146)