CELEX: 51988PC0534
Language: en
Date: 1988-10-05
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) amending Regulation (EEC) No 1654/86 introducing a common measure for replanting and converting olive groves damaged by frost in 1985 in certain regions of the Community#COMMISSION REPORT TO THE COUNCIL on the implementation of the common measure for olive groves damaged by frost Regulation (EEC) No 1654/86 of 25 May 1986)#(presented by the Commission)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
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DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (88) 534
Vol. 1988/0187
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 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                               COM(88) 534 final
                                               Brussels , 5 October 1988
                                       Proposal for a
                                 COUNCIL REGULATION ( EEC )
      amending Regulation ( EEC ) No 1654 / 86 introducing a common measure
            for replanting and converting olive groves damaged by
                    frost in 1985 in certain regions of the
                                          Community
                                              *
                                     *                   *
                        COMMISSION REPORT TO THE COUNCIL
                on the implementation of the common measure for
                  ■ _     olive groves damaged by frost
                Regulation (EEC) No 1654/86 of 25 May 1986)
          V      V        (presented
                          (presented       by the Commission )
     Et        - </> &
               i
 ---pagebreak---                                EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
On 26 May 1986, the Council adopted Regulation ( EEC ) N° 1654/86, designed to
restore to operation olive-growing in certain Community regions which had suffered
from exceptionally bad weather . In view of the nature of the scheme adopted, it
was organized for two years only, to ensure its status as exceptional emergency
intervention . The Regulation comprises both the reconstitution of olive groves
damaged by frost and conversion to other types of production in accordance with
the main requirements of the Common Agricultural Policy . In accordance with
Article 2 of the Regulation , six regions ( four in Italy and two in Franc ?) sent
in to the Commission five special programmes , which were endorsed .
Under Article 5(6) of Regulation ( EEC ) N° 1654 / 86, the Council , on the basis of
a report from the Commission on progress in the implementation of the common
measure , is to decide , on a proposal from the Commission , before 1 April , whether
the measure should be extended in time . After obtaining facts and figures
concerning the execution of the measure , the Commission has drafted the report
annexed , which shows , as required , what progress has been made in the regions
concerned . The data concerning work progress were sent in to the Commission on
18 February and 1 March 1988 for Italy and 22 December 1987 for France . The
requests for extensions were sent on 18 February 1988 for Italy and 30 March for
France . These delays prevented submission of this proposal early enough to ensure
that the deadline referred to in Article 5(6 ) of Regulation ( EEC ) N° 1654 / 86 was
complied with . It has been found that not all the objectives originally set under
the special programmes have been achieved . In particular , the frost in 1985 and,
to a certain extent , the bad weather in certain Italian regions in the autumn of
1987 contributed to the severe damage caused to olive seedlings , particularly in
the nurseries , so that the nurserymen could not meet the increased demand for
seedlings . The result was a severe shortage and much time lost in the
implementation of the action for reconstitution by replanting . Also , the areas
that suffered most from the bad weather were precisely those in which the
reconstitution was to take the form of replanting .
                                                                                      1
 ---pagebreak--- Nor has the conversion work gone forward as rapidly as hoped . In view of the
importance of this part of the common measure under the Common Agricultural
Policy , the conversion drive must be pursued in order to achieve the objectives
of Regulation ( EEC ) N° 1654 / 86 , which have also been included in the special
programmes .
For the reasons set out above , and further to the formal applications sent in by
the two Member States concerned , extra time of one year will be needed to enable
the regions having submitted their programmes to complete the conversion work
and reconstitution by replanting . Accordingly , the main points in the programmes
relating to these two types of measures will remain in force during the extra
time mentioned above .
The amendment contemplated is based on the principle that the status of the
scheme as an exceptional emergency measure is maintained and that , accordingly ,
the possibility of further extension of the duration of the common measure
should not be provided for . The amendment proposed will not require revision of
the estimated cost to the Fund given in Article 5(4 ) of Regulation ( EEC )
N° 1654 / 86, and will be executed within this amount .
                                                                                   3
 ---pagebreak---                                     Proposai for a
                                 COUNCIL REGULATION ( EEC ) '
                              amending Regulation ( EEC ) N° 1654 / 86
                introducing a common measure for replanting and converting
                             olive groves damaged by frost in 1985
                _in certain regions of the Community_
 THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
 Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community ,
  Having regard to Counci ^ Regulation ( EEC ) No T654786 of 26 May 1$36intro<Ajcing a common measure
. for’.reptanting and. converting olive groves damaged by frost in 1985 in certain
                                1
regions of the Community , and in particular Article 5(6 ) thereof;
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ( 2 );
Whereas , under Article 2 of Regulation ( EEC ) N° 1654/ 86, some of the regions
concerned have organized special programmes for the implementation of the common
measure set up by this Regulation ;
 Whereas frost in the winter of 1985 destroyed much of the olive nurseries and
 whereas , accordingly , the effort to reconstitute the groves was severely delayed
 because of a serious shortage of young seedlings ;
 Whereas the areas in which reconstitution takes the form of replanting are those
 that suffered most from frost ;
  Whereas conversion work has been incomplete and whereas it should be pursued in
 view of the need to ensure types of production tailored more closely to the
  requirements of the Common Agricultural Policy ;
  ( 1 ) OJ N° L 145, 30.0$ . 1986, p. 13 .
  ( 2 ) OJ N°
                                                                                               9
 ---pagebreak---  Vhereas , if the problems taken as a whole raised by the delays in implementing
 the common measure are to be solved and the objectives of Regulation ( EEC )
 N° 1654 / 86 are to be achieved , the common measure should be extended by one year
 as regards action to reconstitute the olive groves by replanting and olive grove
 conversion ;
Whereas the programmes approved by the Commission must remain in force during
 the extension period as regards       those   parts   relating to the reconstitution
 of olive groves by replanting or conversion ,
 HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION :
                                        Article 1
Article 5 of Regulation ( EEC ) No 1654 / 86 is hereby amended as follows :
  1.   The following subparagraph is added to paragraph 5 :
       " However , as regards the application of the measures :
         - for reconstitution of olive groves by replanting eligible for the aids
            referred to in the first indent and:the fourth' indent of the first
            subparagraph of paragraph 1 ,
         - for conversion of olive groves eligible for the aids referred to in the
            first and second subparagraphs of paragraph 2 ,
         the common measure shall last three years from the date of approval of the
         first programme and shall come to an end , in any case , on 30 June 1989 ."
  2.     Paragraph 6 is hereby deleted .
                                        Article 2
 This Regulation shall enter into force on the third 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 Counci l ,
                                                            The President             5“
 ---pagebreak---     FINANCIAL              STATEMENT                  concerning : 3 proposal for a (buncil Reg.ulat.ion
    amending Regulation ( EEC ) No 1654 / 86 introducing a common measure for replanting
    and converting olive groves damaged by frost in 1985
1 . Budget heading : 1 1 IB     Item s 300       mie { Specific structural measures related to
                                                         the market policy
2 . Legal basis : Article 43 of the Treaty
3 . Classification :           , Compulsory expendi ture/W^^$1c&fÿ >$f?àWÎI<tiif£
4. Purpose/description of the seasure : Extension of the duration of the measure by one
     year to allow of its completion , delayed beyond original forecasts .
5.     Method of calculation
5.1 Fora of expenditure :      Reimbursement of eligible expenditure with facility for
      advance payments
5.2 Coneunity contribution : 30% and 50% of eligible expenditure for replanting and
       conversion respectively .
 5.3   Calculation :
        See Annex .
 6.    Financial iaplication as regards operating appropriations
 6.1 Schedule of coamltaent appropriations and payment appropriations (n ECU)
                   Year                       C.A.         /         P.A. 0 )
                   ΪΓ57
                   19 88                                   0/ ■
                   19 89                               10,0
                   19 90                               34,0
                    19 91                               13,5
                                                         2,0
                   following years
                                                        60,0
                    Total
 6.2 Financing during current year :
                                            MM 1
 7. Observations
      ves         : (1 -) Amended
            extending        the       scheduleof the
                                   duration        for expenditure;
                                                          measure        the anyPr°P°^
                                                                   without         change si*ply
                                                                                           in the ''forecast
                                                                                                    forecast
     cost of 6U mUlion ECU entered in Article 5(4) of Regulation ( EEC ) No 1654/86,
     as shown in the appended Annex .
                                                                                                             6
 ---pagebreak---                                             lask Force PME
            FICHE D' IMPACT. SÏÏB LA COMPETITIVITE ET L' EMPLOI
1 . Quelle est la justification principale de la mesure ?
    Aides aux agriculteurs , victimes de catastrophes naturelles
2 . Caractéristiques des entreprises concernées . En particulier
       ( a ) Y a-t-il un grand nombre de PME ?
             oui
       ( b ) Note- t-on des concentrations dans les régions
             i . éligibles aux aides régionales des Etats membres ?
                   oui
            ii . éligibles au Feder ? oui
3 . Quelles sont les obligations imposées directement aux
       entreprises ?
       aucune
4 . Quelles sont les obligations susceptibles d' être imposées
    indirectement aux entreprises via les autorités looales ?
       aucune
5 . Y a-t-il des mesures spéciales pour les PME ?
       Lesquelles ? oui - .voir règlement
6 . Quel est l' effet prévisible
       a ) sur la compétitivité des entreprises ? positif
       b ) sur l' emploi ? positif
7 . Les partenaires sociaux ont-ils été consultés ? non
       Quels sont leurs avis ?
 ---pagebreak---                                                                 ANNEX TO FINANCIAL  STATEMENT                           14 September 1988
                                      concerning a proposal for an amendment        to Regulation ( EEC ) No 1654 / 86
                                              Work carried out to 31.12.1987         Forecasts to 30 June 1989                       Total
                                                                              >
                                                  actual                  cost * to     actual          cost to the         actual         cost to the
                                                  work                  . the EAGGF     work            EAGGF ( Guid-      work            EAGGF ( Guid
                                                    *     “ '
                                                                      ( Guidance )                      ance
                                                                                                                               -
                                                                                                                                           ance )
                                                                            m ECU                        m ECO                               m ECU
                                                              1                 2          3                 4                    5         6-2 + 4
 A. Work
 - Total replanting        r                          1 . 420 ha                1,7      2 780 ha            3,5              4 200 ha            5,2
 - Partial replanting                             236 109 trees                 0,9    114 000 trees         0,4           350 000 trees          1,3
 - Sawing off at base of trunk                 3 260 573 ” .                    9,8  1 740 000 - **          5,2       5 , 000 000 "           15,0
 - Sawing off o_f secondary branches           1 639 756 ""                     2,5 2 360 000 « **           3,5       4 000 000 ■               6,0
 -    Conversion                                          190 ha                0,4      1 260 ha            2,5              1 450 ha           2,9
 TOTAL ( A )                                                                  15,3                         15,1                                30,4
 B.    Supplementary aid in case of :
       Replanting                                                                                                     10 610 000 trees        27,0
 -     Conversion                                                                                                            1.450 ha           2,6
 TOTAL ( B )                                                                                                                                  29,6
  TOTAL COST of measure to the EAGGF,                                                                                                         60,0
   ( Guidance Section )
 * Estimate owing to the fact that no Italian application for reimbursement has yet been submitted .
** Work to be carried out in 1988 only.' .
 ---pagebreak---                              COMMISSION REPORT TO THE COUNCIL
                       on the implementation of the commom measure
                            for olive groves damaged by frost
               ( Council Regulation ( EEC ) No 1654 / 86 of 25 May 1986 ( 1 ))
CONTENTS
I.      Introduction
II .    General context
III .   Framework of the commom measure
IV .    Special programmes
V.      Implementing the programmes
VI .    Results
VII .   Applications for extending the period of validity of the commom measure
VIII . Conclusions
I. INTRODUCTION
     This report has been drawn up in accordance with Article 5(6 ) of Council
     Regulation ( EEC ) No 1654 / 86 introducing a commom measure for replanting
     and converting olive groves damaged by frost in 1985 in certain regions
     of the Community . The said Article 5(6 ) states that , on the basis of a
     progress report by the Commission on the implementation of the commom
     measure , and following a proposal from the Commission , the Council must
     take a decision before 1 April 1988 on whether the commom measure should
     be extended beyond 30 June 1988 .
     This report focuses on the measures introduced by the Member States concerned
     and the results obtained .
( 1 ) 0J No L 145 , 30.05.1986 , p. 13 .
 ---pagebreak---                                            - 2 -
II .  General context
      In January 1985, exceptionally cold weather caused serious damage to olive
      groves in several regions of central Italy and southern France . In view of
      the severity of the damage the Council decided to introduce a commom measure
      designed to encourage , subject to certain conditions , the replanting and
      conversion of the groves which had been destroyed .
      The commom measure had a threefold aim : to compensate the growers as soon
      as possible for the loss of income they had suffered, so that farming could
      continue in areas where there was no alternative to olive-growing; to prevent
      erosion and provide vegetation cover in envi ronmentally-sensitive areas ; and
      to encourage olive-growers in the areas where the damage had occurred to
      convert to other crops which were more in keeping with market requirements,
      provided that their land was suitable .
III . Framework of the commom measure
      The commom measure is designed to cover areas where olive-growing is a major
      component of agricultural production and the ecosystem and where at least
      half the olive trees suffered severe damage .
      Regulation ( EEC ) No 1654 / 86 provides for two types of scheme : collective
      replanting and conversion .
      - The purpose of the first type of scheme is the replanting of olive groves
        by agricultural holders bound by a collective agreement between not less
        than 25 farmers , with a view to achieving optimum economic effectiveness
        as regards both production and marketing . In order to reduce production
        costs the olive groves must be replanted in such a way as to allow olive-
        -growing and harvesting to be mechanized , and the producers' group must
        seek , through the choice of suitable varieties , to produce high-quality
        olive oil . The number of trees replanted under each collective scheme
        must be 5 000 or more .
                                                                                    4®
 ---pagebreak---                                    - J -
Several aid schemes are provided for , depending on the extent of the damage
( the maximum eligible aid is shown in brackets ):
- replanting of all the trees (4 300 ECU / ha )
- replanting of a substantial proportion of the olive grove 's trees
   ( 13 ECU / tree )
- sawing-off of the trees at the base of the trunk ( 11 ECU / tree )
- sawing-off of the main and secondary branches (6 ECU / tree ).
Supplementary aid of 2 ECU per tree per year is granted with a view to
offsetting income losses , if the work covers an area of 0.5 ha or more
( subject to a limit of 10 ha or 3 000 trees per individual holding ). The
said supplementary aid is granted for five years where the trees have to
be replanted or sawn off at the base of the trunk and three years in cases
where the damage to the trees does not require such action .
The EAGGF reimburses up to 30% of the eligible expenditure ; the beneficiary
is required to pay at least 20% of the total cost of the work .
- The second type of scheme concerns damage to olive groves situated on
   land which is suitable for other forms of production . Such schemes are
   designed to encourage the farmers concerned to convert to types of
   production which require less specialized outlets , e.g. shellfruit , fodder
   and high-protein products . Afforestation is also eligible under this type
   of scheme . The conversion plan may be implemented by individuals or
   groups , but must involve the grubbing up of olive trees on an area of
   0.2 ha or more .
   The minimum density is 50 olive trees per ha .
   There is no maximum eligible amount per unit in the case of conversion
   schemes ; these take into account the actual expenditure incurred , in
   particular the accompanying measures required for the development of the
   new types of crops , e.g. reparcelling and land and drainage improvements .
                                                                               M
 ---pagebreak---                                           - 4 -
     Supplementary aid may also be granted , on condition that the conversion
     scheme covers 0.5 ha or more . The amounts concerned are differentiated
     according to the income loss , but must not exceed 2 000 ECU / ha in the
     case of conversion to annual crops , and 4 000 ECU/ ha in the case of
     multiannual crops , including afforestation schemes .
     Although it is conceded that the impact of this second type of scheme will
     be more limited , given the agronomic characteristics of the areas concerned,
     the Regulation provides , with a view to encouraging conversion operations ,
     for a higher level of EAGGF aid than in the case of reparcelling ( 50% of
     the eligible expenditure is reimbursed ).
     The schemes are being implemented over a very short period ( two years ),
     because of the special nature of the commom measure and because it is felt
     that prompt application will help to avoid even greater damage to the
     environment and further adverse effects on the economic situation of the
     farmers concerned .
     The forward estimate of the cost of the commom measure to the EAGGF is
     60 mi llion ECU .
IV . Special programmes
     Regulation ( EEC ) No 1654 / 86 provides for the presentation , by the Member
     States concerned , of one or more special programmes drawn up by the national
     authorities or by the regions in which the damage occurred . The said special
     programmes must include information on olive-growing 's importance in the
     region , a description of the damage caused by the frost , and details of the
     proposed aid arrangements .
     1 . Italy
         By 1 July 1986 ( the deadline applicable under Regulation ( EEC ) No 1654 / 86 ),
         four of Italy 's regions had submitted a special programme : Tuscany ,
         Liguria , Umbria and Lazio .
         The measures proposed under the different programmes , the area , etc .
         covered by the various schemes and the budget forecasts concerned are
         set out in Table 1 . The indicators used relate to measures which are
         eligible under Regulation ( EEC ) No 1654/ 86 . The four schemes include
         similar technical measures whose relative importance in the context of
         each regional programme reflects the type of damage caused .
                                                                                       Al
 ---pagebreak---                                           5
Table 1 : Special programmes presented by Italian regions
                                Tuscany        Lazio    Umbria    Liguria      Total
Total replanting ( ha )           2 400        2 200     1 100       -
                                                                                5 700
Partial replanting
( number of trees )              18 000      349 000    10 000    101 000     478 000
Sawing-off of trees at
the base of the trunk
( number of trees )             980 000    1 709 000   700 000    311 000   6 700 000
Sawing-off of branches
( number of trees )             110 000    3 383 000   700 000    200 000   5 393 000
Supplementary aid to
replanting ( number
of trees ) over :
- five-year period              750 000    1 750 000 1 440 000    645 000   9 585 000
- three-year period             350 000    2 150 000 1 430 000    955 000   5 885 000
Conversion ( ha )                   400          900       500         150      1 950
Supplementary aid
to conversion ( ha )                400          900       500         150      1 950
Total cost ( million ECU ),          134          92        28.3        19.3       273.6
of which :
- cost to Member State / Region       82          53         19         12         166
- cost to EA6GF                       38.7        27          8.7        6          80.4
- cost to beneficiary                 13.3        12          0.6        1.3        27.2
                                                                                       /fî
 ---pagebreak---                                - 6 -
The replanting of olive groves, be in total or partial , accounts for the
biggest share of those programmes . Conversion schemes cover a total of
1 950 ha , as follows : afforestation (700 ha ), fruit (650 ha ), meadows
and permanent pastures ( 150 ha ) and medicinal plants ( 150 ha ). The total
cost to the EAG6F of the four programmes was 80.4 million ECU, i.e. well
above the budget estimate of 60 million ECU stated in the Council
Regulation .
To avoid arbitrary cuts within individual programmes and difficult joint-
-regional negotiations it was proposed that a reduction be applied across
the board in order to keep within the budget allocation decided by the
Council . On 26 January 1987, in the light of the information provided by
Italy on 31 October 1986, the Commission approved the four special
programmes on the basis of the following cost estimates :
             Tuscany          25.2  mi llion ECU
             Lazio            20.3  mi llion ECU
             Umbria           10.6  million  ECU
             Liguria            2.8 mi llion ECU
             Total            58.9 million ECU
This amounts to an overall reduction of 27% in relation to the initial
application . Work carried out by regions in accordance with the detailed
arrangements approved by the Commission will be financed by the Community
up to the total appropriations applicable . Moreover , the cost of any
work which exceeds the amounts referred to above will be financed on the
basis of the national provisions applicable in the case of natural
disasters .
A programme for the Campania region was presented after 1 July 1986 .
Since the time-limits applicable under the Regulation were not complied
with , and given the budget considerations referred to above , the Commission
did not take that proposal into account .
 ---pagebreak---                                          <
2 . France
    An initial version of France 's special programme was presented on 26 June
    1986 . Since it required basic changes ( in particular as regards the
    geographical area concerned and the aid arrangements ) , a revised version
    was forwarded on 3 June 1987 .
    In October 1987, in response to a request by the Commission department
    concerned , additional information was provided regarding the nature of
    the work , the level of the aid , the extent of the frost damage , and the
    financial estimates . The special programme under consideration was
    approved by the Standing Committee on Agricultural Structures at its
    meeting on 19 February 1988 . The programme covers only the Languedoc -
    - Roussillon and Provence - Alpes - Cote d'Azur regions and in particular
    19 olive-growing areas where the frost damage was severe .
    The aid schemes in question concern only the replanting of damaged olive
    groves . The fact that there is no conversion scheme is due mainly to the
    farming population 's desire to maintain at a maximum level the production
    potential of a crop which in France tends to concentrate on highly
    distinctive products of very good quality , the demand for which is far
    from fully met by domestic suppliers . Moreover , the fact that the olive
    groves tend to be small and scattered would add to the complexity of any
    meaningfull conversion programme .
    The programme approved by the Commission is designed to restore the
    potential of certain groves by cutting down trees or transplanting
    healthy growth recovered from other groves , and fits into the general
    pattern of aid from the fund for natural disasters affecting agriculture .
    Accordingly , the measures chosen and their potential field of application
    are as follows :
    - replanting ( transplanting ) + supplementary aid          110 000 trees
    - replanting ( sawing-off of trees at the base
       of the trunk ) + supplementary aid                       520 000 trees
    - replanting ( sawing-off of branches )
       + supplementary aid                                      390 000 trees
    The Commission has , however , rejected part of the French programme
    ( post-clearance replanting of certain groves ), since the work concerned
    was schedule for the winter of 1988 / 89 and would therefore not have
    complied with the time-limits applicable under the Regulation .
                                                                               /1Г
 ---pagebreak---     The estimate of expenditure chargeable to the fund is 0.6 million ECU.
    Frost damage was also recorded in the Drome and Ardeche, departments
    which are not covered by Regulation ( EEC ) No 1654/ 86 .
    Measures similar to those approved as part of the special programme are
    planned for those two departments pursuant to Regulation ( EEC ) No 2088/ 85
    concerning the integrated Mediterranean programmes .
    It is expected that , in 8-10 years' time , after the planned measures for
    olive-growing in France have been implemented, the country 's volume of
    production (oil + table olives ) will not exceed the figure for 1987 .
Implementing the programmes
1 . Italy
    In Italy , administrative and technical problems stood in the way of the
    implementation of the regional programmes .
    From an administrative point of view the procedures relating to the
    drawing up of the framework plan and the financial and control aspects
    are very cumbersome , with decisions being taken at three different levels
    producers' groups , decentralized departments ( Enti delegati ) and the
    regional authorities . The processing of the applications is in seven
    separate stages , beginning with the submission of the application by the
    grower and ending with the authorization to carry out the work .
    Accordingly , growers who made official enquiries and waited for the go-
    -ahead from the authorities before replanting or converting are still
    at the stage where information is being gathered on their application .
    Moreover , the exceptionally severe cold weather boosted the demand for
    propagating material , outstripping supplies from nurseries , and this
    meant serious difficulties for growers who wanted to replant at once .
    The situation was made even worse by the need to replant specific
    varieties and by bad weather during the periods when replanting would
    normally have taken place .
 ---pagebreak---                                        У
    Those two factors meant major delays in implementing the programmes in
    Lazio , Umbria r.nd Liguria and , to a certain extent , in Tuscany .
    These are two main reasons for the more rapid implementation of the
    programme in Tuscany : the damage there was more heavily concentrated
    than in other regions and led to a quick response from the farmers
    concerned ( it was in fact this response which later resulted in the
    Italian Government 's request for action by the Community ); and Tuscany
    was more effective in mobilizing trade organizations with a view to
    implementing collective replanting schemes not covered by the Regulation .
2 . France
    In France , action to help olive-growers was taken fairly rapidly , thanks
    to the country 's Fonds de garantie , a body which compensates farmers for
    damage caused by natural disasters .
    The fact that it was some time before the special programme was approved
    did not unduly disrupt replanting operations . The difficulties involved
    in drawing up the French programme stemmed from the need to ensure that
    the measures concerned were eligible under the Fonds de garantie and
    Regulation No 1654 / 86 .
    Moreover , an outline plan had to be drawn up in respect of holders
    taking part in collective replanting schemes , the areas elegible and
    the control arrangements on which the financing was based .
    Like their Italian counterparts , French olive-growers had fifficulties
    in finding good-quality young propagating material which was in keeping
    varietal requirements , and this hindered replanting operations .
                                                                               /г
 ---pagebreak---                                          - 10 -
VI .  Results
      1 . Italy
          The figures concerning the implementation of the programmes were forwarded
          by the Italian authorities on 18 February . Additional information was
          provided on 12 March in respect of the Lazio region . As Table 2 shows , by
          30 June 1988, the date on which the period of validity of the commom
          measure expired , Tuscany will have completed 90Z of the planned measures ,
          whereas the corresponding figures for Lazio, Umbria and Liguria will be
          50% or less .
          In the light of those estimates , and unless the period of validity of
          the commom measure is extended , Italy is likely to apply for EAGGF
          reimbursement of only 43 million ECU, compared with the 59 million ECU
          originally planned .
      2 . France
          On 22 December 1987, EAGGF received , in respect of work carried out in
          1987 , a request for reimbursement of a total of about 0.49 million ECU .
          The breakdown , by type of work , of the operations carried out under the
          special programme approved by the Commission is given in Table 3 . State
          aid was granted in respect of 240 000 trees ( representing some 25% of
          the damage recorded ) pursuant to Regulation ( EEC ) No 1654 / 86 . That is
          also the proportion of holdings which were eligible under the Regulation .
          On the other hand , total-replanting schemes covering a total of 150 ha
          will be carried out in 1988-89 . Those schemes , which could normally have
          been eligible under the Regulation , were initially rejected when the
          special programme for France was approved , in view of the time-limits
          for the application of the Regulation ( work to be completed by 30 June
          1988 ).
VII . Applications for extending the period of validity of the commom measure
      1 . Italy
          On 18 February 1988 the Italian Government asked the Commission to extend
          the commom measure 's period of validity by 12 months , on the following
          grounds :
                                                                                      л%
 ---pagebreak---           1 ) The delay in approving the Italian programmes ( this did not take
              place until 26 January 1987 ),. which in effect reduced the period
              of validity of the commom measure to 17 months ( instead of the
              24 months specified in the Regulation ).
          2 ) There were major delays because of shortages of propagating material
              ( only certain varieties could be used for replanting ).
          3 ) Bad weather in the regions principally concerned by the Regulation
              ( Tuscany and Lazio ). This was recognized officially as a major factor
              ( Parliament also expressed its opinion in that respect ) and led to
              some delays in replanting .
       2. France
          On 30 March 1988 the French Government asked the Commission to extend the
          commom measure 's period of validity , on the grounds that nurseries too
          had suffered severe frost damage in 1985 , resulting in a shortage of
          propagating material . Extending the commom measure 's period of validity
          would mean that total-replanting schemes which had initially been
          included in the programme but which had been rejected could be taken
          into consideration .
VIII . Conclusions
       The Commission feels that , in order to fully implement the measures to
       replant and convert olive groves which have been damaged by frost , the
       commom measure 's period of validity should be extended by 12 months .
       Such extension should , however , concern only replanting and conversion
       as such , and not the sawing-off of trees at the base of the trunk or the
       sawing-off of the main branches .
 ---pagebreak---                           TABLE 2 : PROGRESS REPORT ON THE APPLICATION OF REGULATION ( EEC ) No 1654 / 86 IN ITALY
                                    UNIT              TUSCANY                  LAZIO                   UMBRIA ■               LIGURIA
              MEASURE                OF
                                 MEASUREMENT
                                               planned    completed    planned    completed    planned     completed  planned     complete
  - Total replantation            hectare        2 400        1 420      2 200          -
                                                                                                 1 100           -        -            -
  - Partial replanting               tree       18 000      197 040    349 000          -
                                                                                                10 000          -
                                                                                                                      101 000          -
  - Sawing-off of trees at
     the base of the trunk           tree    3 980 000    3 120 141  1 709 000          –
                                                                                               700 000          –  . 311 000
   - Sawing-off of branches          tree    1 110 000    1 578 609  3 383 000          -
                                                                                               700 000          -
                                                                                                                     200 000          -
   - Conversion                   hectare           400          190       900         ■-          500          -
                                                                                                                           150        -
   - Supplementary aid
     - to replanting
        ( five years )               tree    5 750 000         -
                                                                     1 750 000       .  -    1 440 000          -
                                                                                                                     645 000          –
     - to replanting
        ( three years )              tree    1 350 000         -
                                                                     2 150 000          -
                                                                                             1 430 000          -
                                                                                                                     955 000          –
     - to conversion
        ( annual crops )           hectare        -■           -
                                                                           300          -
                                                                                                   100          -        -            –
     - to conversion
        ( multiannual crops )      hectare          400        "
                                                                           600                     400                     150
  N.B. - The actual figure in respect of measures eligible for EAGGF reimbersement is less than that shown under "planned",
        - " Completed " should be taken to mean " completed as at 31 December 1987".
0
 ---pagebreak---                        TABLE 3 : PROGRESS REPORT ON THE APPILICATION OF REGULATION ( EEC ) No 1654 / 86 IN FRANCE
                                 ( PROVENCE- ALPES - COTE D'AZUR AND LANQUEDOC-ROUSSILLON REGIONS )
                               Numbçr of         Number of      Number     Aid chargeable    Aid chargeable
    TYPE OF INTERVENTION       holdings     . ,  olive            of       to the State      to EAGGF
                               receiving aid     groves         hectares      ( FF )             ( FF )
- Total replanting                  -                 -               -            -                 -
- Partial replanting               413             39 069             -
                                                                            2 200 000           650 000
- Sawing-off of the trees
  at the base of the trunk      1 148            140 432              -
                                                                            7 100 000         2 130 000
- Sawing-off of the
  branches                         590             61 147             -
                                                                            2 100 000           620 000
- Supplementary aid to
  replanting ( five -
  - year period )                   .                 _               __           _                  -
- Supplementary aid to
  replanting ( three -
  - year period )                   -                 -               -            -
                                                                                                      -
        TOTAL                   1 569             240 648            1 344 11 400 000         3 400 000