CELEX: 51980PC0384
Language: en
Date: 1980-07-11
Title: PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DIRECTIVE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURE IN THE FRENCH OVERSEAS DEPARTMENTS (presented by the Commission to the Council)

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COM (80) 384
Vol. 1980/0136
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 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                                 COM(80)384 final
                                                 Brussels ,  11th July 1980
                         af
                               s.          v\
                            g?? T          M
                                  v .>■ l>
                      P^0POSAL£FOR A COUNCÎl^DIRECTIVE
                     ON ÎHeSlvELOPMENTxOf/ AGRICULTURE
                     IN THE FRENCH OVERSEAS DEPARTMENTS
               (presented by the Commission to the Council )
COM ( 80 ) 384 final
 ---pagebreak---                                                                     1 .-
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
In the French overseas departments , agriculture is much Less developed
than in the other regions of the Community . So far , it is the European
Development Fund that has helped finance measures to improve agricul­
tural structures . From 1980 , this function will be taken over by the
Guidance Section of the EAGGF .
Given the special circumstances obtaining in the French overseas
departements , the Directives for the reform of agriculture adopted
 in 1972 cannot be properly applied , and steps . must therefore be taken
to enable structural development in these regions to catch up .
 ---pagebreak---                                                                           2.
      THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
      Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic
•s
      Community / and in particular Article 43 thereof ,
     Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ,
                                                                  1
     Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament ,
                                                                              2
     Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee , .
     Whereas , in order to attain the objectives of the common agricultural
     policy set out in Article 39 < 1 > ( a ) and ( b ) of the Treaty , special
     provisions , which are suited to those agricultural areas in which           ,
     production conditions are least favourable , should be adopted at         ■
                   '                                   . •
     Community level ;
     Whereas from 1980 onwards there can be no aid from the European
     Development Fund ;
     Whereas the French overseas departments are/ very little developed
  \ compared with the other regions of the Community . and are in a parti­
     cularly unfavourable situation as regards agricultural yield and
     incomes , while the agricultural sect'or is the only one capable of
     playing a prominent part in the economic development of the said
     departments ;                                                           , ■.
     Whereas the conditions and limits laid down in Articles 14 and 19
     of Council Directive 72 / 159 / EEC of 17 April 1972 on the moderni­
      sation of farms^ are not well suited to the particular structural
   ,  situation of the French overseas departments ;
      1.
      2.                         "
      3 . 0J No . L 96 , 23.4.1972 , p. 1
 ---pagebreak--- Whereas the objective should be to enable the structural development
of these regions to catch up through measures having lasting effects
on their agricultural economies ;
Whereas agricultural production in the French overseas departments
is seriously affected by a water supply situation which is distorted
by an inadequate infrastructure in rural areas , and by soils which
require much improvement before they can yield well or be efficiently .
exploited for forestry ;
Whereas diversification of crops must be encouraged ;
      ;           ' ■ '         ■        '   i
Whereas these measures concerned with under-development should be
expedited by means of Community aid ;
Whereas these objectives should be pursued by way of a multi-purpose
common measure covering all the French overseas departments and con­
stituting a special programme extending over several years ;
Whereas it follows from the foregoing that the measures referred to
constitute a common measure within the meaning of Article 6 of Council
Regulation ( EEC ) No . 729/ 70 of 21 April 1970 on the financing of the
                              1
common agricultural policy , as last amended by Regulation ( EEC )
No . 929/ 792.
                                     /  ■  -   · . .    -              « ·
                                  «.  ;              ι                     ·
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE :
1 . OJ No . L 94 , 28.4.1970 , p. 13
2 . OJ No . L 117 , 12.5.1979 , p. 4
 ---pagebreak---                                                                             4 .-
                                   Article 1
1 . With a view to promoting the development of agriculture in the French
    overseas'departments , a common measure within the meaning of Article 6
     ( 1 ) of Regulation ( EEC ) No . 729/ 70 / to be implemented by the French
    Republic , shall be introduced for the purpose of stimulating the de­
    velopment of agriculture in the departments of Reunion / Guadeloupe ,
    Martinique and Guiana .                      v -
2 . The conditions and limits laid down in Article          14 ( 2 ) and Article 19
    ( 2 > and ( 3 ) of Directive 72 / 159/ EEC shall not apply to the operations
    covered by this common measure .
                                  Article 2
1 . The Community 's financial contribution may be used only in the framework
   vof a programme implementing all the measures envisaged in the departments
    concerned . Such a programme for all the departments concerned or for one
    or more thereof shall be submitted to the Commission by the French
    Republic .
2 . The programme and any amendments thereto shall be examined and approved ,
    after consultation with the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee
    Fund Committee on the financial aspects , in accordance with the procedure
    laid down in Article 18 < 2 ) and ( 3 ) of Directive 72/ 159/ EEC .
                                  Article 3
    The object of the programme referred to in Article 2 shall be to promote
    the development of agriculture by :
    ( a ) collective irrigation operations
    ( b ) improvements to agricultural infrastructure
    ( c ) soil improvement/     flood    protection work and other
           protection work
    ( d ) afforestation and the improvement of degraded forest , including the
           establishment of shelter belts and forest roads
    ( e ) measures to encourage stockfarming and the diversification of crops .
 ---pagebreak---                                                                        5. -
                                                          * ■
                              Article 4
1 . The programme shall include the following minimum information for
    each of the measures envisaged :
    - a description of the' measure and the plan for financing the pro­
       gramme
    - the scope of operations and the time scale envisaged
    - the rules governing intervention . by public authorities in carrying
       out the programme
    - the measures provided for to encourage stockfarming and the diver­
       sification of crops .                                  '
2 . All measures referred to in this action must fall within the framework of a
    regional development programme which the French Republic is required to forward
                                           *
    to the Commission under Article 6 of the European Regional Development
    Fund Regulation .
                              Article 5  -
1 . Expenditure incurred by the French Republic under the programme referred
    to in Article 2 on the work referred to in Article 3 shall be eligible
      under        the Guidance Section of the Fund up to the following limits :
    - Under Artide 3 ( a ), up to 31 million ECU
    - Under Artide 3 ( b ), up to 90 million ECU
    - Under Artide 3 ( c ), up to 47 million ECU
    - Under Artide 3 ( d ), up to    9 million ECU
    - Under Article 3 ( e ), up to 34 million ECU , of which a maximum of 10%
       may be used for technical assistance .
2 . The Fund, Guidance Section , shall reimburse to the French Republic 50%
    of the eligible expenditure referred to in the first , third > fourth and
    fifth indents of the preceding paragraph and 40% in respect of the
    second indent .
                              Article 6
1 . The duration of the measure shall be not more than six years .
2 . Before the period referred to in paragraph 1 expires this Directive
    shall be reviewed by the Council acting on a proposal from the Commission . -
3 . The total estimated cost of the common measure to be borne by the Fund
     shall be 96.5 million EUA .
 ---pagebreak--- Article 7
When the programme referred to in Article 2          is approved , the
Commission shall , by agreement with the French Republic , determine
the manner in which .it shall be kept informed of the progress of
the programme .
Article 8
Requests for reimbursement shall relate to expenditure incurred
by the French public authorities during one calendar year and
shall be submitted to the Commission not later than 30 June of the
following year .
Aid from the Fund shall be decided upon in accordance with
Article 7       of Regulation ( EEC ) NO 729/ 70 .
The Fund may make advance payments on the basis of the method of
financing adopted by the French public authorities and in the
light of the progress of the programme .
Detailed rules for the application of this Article shall be adopted
in accordance with the       procedure laid down in Article 13 of Regu­
lation ( EEC ) NO 729 / 70 .
Article 9
This Directive is addressed to the French Republic .
Done at Brussels ,
                                                   For the Counci l
 ---pagebreak---                      5M&IAKC V*,i.           ,* r i 2V : ^   /                               m.   *>.,•«.
                                                                                        3 "î T. v « «.
                                                                               Date s                      i^bO
 1 . BUDGET HEADING :          8235                                           immmMK-
 2. TITLE : Draft proposal for a Council Regulation on "the development of
               agriculture in the French Overseas Departments .
 3. LEGAL BASIS : Regulations 729/ 70 » Article 6»
 4 . AIMS OF PROJECT : ^he acceleration of agricultural development in the French
               Overseas Departments
                                             PERIOD OF 12 MONTHS                AL YEAR FOLLOWING,FINANCIAL YEAR
  5 . FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS                                        CURRENT
                                                                                                  *!
  5.0 EXPENDITURE
          - CHARGED TO THE EC BUDGET                                                                      p. m .
            ( RE FUNDS / INTERVENTIONS )
          - NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION                                                                       p. m ,
          - OTHER
  5.1 RECEIPTS
          - OWN RESOURCES OF THE EC
            ( LEVIES / CUSTOMS DUTIES )
          « NATIONAL
f–                                   –!          1982           .    1985          1984                       1985- """
  S.0.1 ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE                     8,3 MEUA        . 13,6 MEUA     18 MEUA               20. MEUA
  5.1.1 ESTIMATED RECEIPTS                                                          •M»                      «■»
  5 . z . METHOD Of CALCULATION
                                         See Annex
 6.0 CAN THE PROJECT BE FINANCED FROM APPROBATIONS ENTERED IN THE RELEVANT CHAPTER OF THE CURRENT BUDGET »
                                                                                                                  YES/ IJP
 6.1 CAN THE PROJECT BE FINANCEO BY TRANSFER BETWEEN CHAPTERS OF THE CURRENT BUDGET '
                                                                                                                  YES / ®
 6.2 IS A SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET BE NECESSARY ?
                                                                                                                  ÏËÉ / NO
 6.3 WILL FUTURE BUDGET APPROBATIONS BE NECESSARY ? But included in the total fUIldS
                                                 allocated to the EAGGF–Guidance Section *                        YES / IKX
 OBSERVATIONS :
 ---pagebreak---                                 ANNEX
The action can be subdivided into five parts :
–  acceleration of joint irrigation works
–  improvement of agricultural infmn *    : ture
–  land and pasture improvement
–  reafforestation and the improvement of degraded forests
– orientation of production .
1 . Acceleration of .joint irrigation works
    The EAGGF will reimburse 50    of the expenditure of the Member State . The
    maximum eligible expenditure is fixed at 31 million ECU 's ; thus , the
    maximum cost to the EAGGF is 15»5 million ECU 's .
    The time–table of expenditure is estimated as follows :
                    Year                           EAGGF Expenditure
                      1                            1,5 million ECU's
                      2                            2     "      "
                      3                            3
                      4                            3     "      "
                      5                            3     "      "
                      6                            3     M      "
                   Total                         15,5 million ECU's
2 . Improvement of agricultural infrastructure
    The EAGGF will reimburse 40 ^ of the expenditure of the Member State .
    The maximum eligible expenditure is fixed at 90 million ECU 's ; thus
    the maximum cost to the EAGGF is 36 million ECU 's .
                                                                      ./
 ---pagebreak---                                   - 2 -
    The time-table of expenditure is estimated as follows z
                      Year                         EAGGF Expenditure
                       1                           4 million ECU"s
                       2                           5     "      "
                       3'                          6     "
                       4                           7     "
                       5                           7            "
                       6                           7
                      Total                       36 million ECU' s
3 . Land and pasture improvement
    For 'this measure , the EAGGF will reimburse 50 $ of the expenditure
    of the Member State which is limited to 47 million ECU 'S . Thus
    the maximum expenditure of the EA.GGF will be, 23,5 million ECU's .
    The time table of expenditure is estimated as follows t
                      Year      "                   EAGGF Expenditure
                       1                        1,5 million ECU' s
                       2                 ....   4         "   ' " '
                     : 3                        5         "      "        , ,
                       4    \                   5         "      ";     .
                       5                        5
                       6                        3        "      "
                      Total                    23,5 million ECU* s
4* Reafforestation and improvement of degraded forests
    The programme relates to the reafforestation of 3000 ha and the
    creation of 70 km of farm roads .
    The average oost to the Member State of the reafforestation amounts
    to 12.000 FF per ha and 290.000 FF per km of farm roads .
                                                                     ■/
 ---pagebreak--- Thus , the total oosts amount to
      2.750 * 12.000 x 0,17334             -          5,72 mi Ili 011 ECU's
      65 x 290.000 x 0,17334               »          3,27 million ECU's
   .- Total expenditure of the Member State           8,99 million ECU 'S
Cost to the EAGGF 1    9 x 50 % « 4»5 million ECU 'S
Time table of expenditure :
         1   Year                           EAGGF Expenditure
              1                             0,3 million ECU's
           '  2                             0,6    "        "
              3                             1      H        II
              4                             1      11       H
              5                             1      "        M
              6                             0,6    "        "
             Total                          4,5 million ECU's
Orientation of production
For this measure , the EAGGF will reimburse 50 % of the expenditure of
the Member Stat^ which is fixed at 34 million ECU 's; thus the maximum,
expenditure of the EAGGF will be 17 million ECU 's .
The time table of expenditure is estimated as follows :
             Tear                           EAGGF Expenditure
              1                             1 million ECU's
              2                             2    "       ••
              3                            3     "       "
              4                             4    "       "
              5                          < 4
              6                              3   "
             Total                        17 million ECU's .
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 4 -
6 . Summary of Community costs
                                                                  million ECU' s
            Measures                           Year                     Total
                               1       2     3       4     5       6
                          I
      Irrigation             1,5
                                  I
                                       2    3        3  i
                                                           3      3   ! 15,5 I
      Infrastructure         4    ! 5 : ^ ; ^ i ? : ?                 ! 36
    I Land, improvement      1,5  ! 4       5        5     5      3      23,5
      Reafforestation        0,3       0,6  1                     0,6     4,5
                                        -
      Orientation of
      production             1         2    3        4     4      3      17
      Total                  8,3      13,6  18      20    20     16,6    96,5
      Conversion to MEU&.
                          i
                             8,3 I 13,6 !   18    '  20   20 ■ ! 16,6    96,5
      Central rate as from 30.11.1979 • 5,84700
      Representative rate t 5,84700
     The total cost of the measure to the Community is estimated at 96,5 MUCE