CELEX: 62009CN0152
Language: en
Date: 2009-05-04 00:00:00
Title: Case C-152/09: Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Verwaltungsgericht Schwerin (Germany) lodged on 4 May 2009 — André Grootes v Amt für Landwirtschaft Parchim

18.7.2009   
            
            
               EN
            
            
               Official Journal of the European Union
            
            
               C 167/4
            
         Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Verwaltungsgericht Schwerin (Germany) lodged on 4 May 2009 — André Grootes v Amt für Landwirtschaft Parchim
   (Case C-152/09)
   2009/C 167/06
   Language of the case: German
   
      Referring court
   
   Verwaltungsgericht Schwerin
   
      Parties to the main proceedings
   
   
      Claimant: André Grootes
   
      Defendant: Amt für Landwirtschaft Parchim
   
      Questions referred
   
   
               1.
            
            
               Can hardship under Article 40(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 (1) be recognised in relation to an area-based amount even where an agri-environmental measure ongoing on 15 May 2003 constitutes just retention of (permanent) use as pastureland, but it is connected seamlessly in time (or at any rate ‘promptly’) with a measure under which conversion from arable land to permanent pastureland has taken place?
            
         
               2.
            
            
               If the first question should be answered in the affirmative:
               Can hardship under Article 40(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 be recognised in relation to an area-based amount only where there has been a change of use of the area from arable land to pastureland on the basis of (and precisely because of) participation in an agri-environmental measure as referred to in the aforementioned provision?
            
         
               3.
            
            
               Is recognition of hardship under Article 40(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 contingent on the farmer making the application being the person who made the change of use, or can a farmer who later ‘joins in on’ the agri-environmental measure also successfully claim hardship under that provision?
            
         
      (1)  Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 of 29 September 2003 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers and amending Regulations (EEC) No 2019/93, (EC) No 1452/2001, (EC) No 1453/2001, (EC) No 1454/2001, (EC) 1868/94, (EC) No 1251/1999, (EC) No 1254/1999, (EC) No 1673/2000, (EEC) No 2358/71 and (EC) No 2529/2001 (OJ L 270, 21.10.2003, p. 1).