Council Regulation (EC) No 814/2000 of 17 April 2000 on information measures relating to the common agricultural policy

Council Regulation (EC) No 814/2000
of 17 April 2000
on information measures relating to the common agricultural policy
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission(1),
Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament(2),
Whereas:
(1) Articles 32 to 38 of the Treaty provide for the implementation of a common agricultural policy.
(2) Council Regulation (EC) No 1258/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the financing of the common agricultural policy(3) stipulates that measures intended to provide information on the common agricultural policy are to be financed by the EAGGF Guarantee Section.
(3) The main practical aspects of the present information policy in the common agricultural policy context should be maintained.
(4) Article 22(1) of the Financial Regulation of 21 December 1977 applicable to the general budget of the European Communities(4) stipulates that the implementation of appropriations entered for significant Community action requires a basic act. Under the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 October 1998 on legal bases and implementation of the budget(5), a basic act is also needed for the measures covered by this Regulation.
(5) The common agricultural policy is often misunderstood because of a dearth of information. The only way to rectify this situation is through a consistent, objective and comprehensive information and communication strategy.
(6) The issues surrounding the common agricultural policy and its development should be explained to both farmers and other parties directly concerned, as well as the general public, both inside and outside the Community. Proper implementation of the common agricultural policy depends to a large extent on the explanation given to all protagonists and necessitates the integration of information measures, which are regarded as management components of that policy.
(7) The priority measures which the Community may support should be defined.
(8) Organisations representing those active in farming and in rural areas, particularly farmers' organisations, consumers' associations and environmental protection associations play a vital role in informing their members about the common agricultural policy and relaying to the Commission the opinions of the parties concerned in general and farmers in particular.
(9) Since the common agricultural policy is the first and most extensive of the Community's integrated policies, it should be explained to the general public. Other parties likely to be able to present information projects that will help achieve this goal should therefore be eligible to make proposals.
(10) The Commission must have the necessary resources to implement the information actions it wishes to realise in the area of agriculture.
(11) Although activities that can be assisted under other Community programmes should not be financed under this Regulation, the complementarity of such activities with other Community initiatives should nevertheless be encouraged.
(12) The measures necessary for the implementation of this Regulation should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission(6),