Council Regulation (EEC) No 3222/88 of 17 October 1988 introducing a common measure for the re-establishment of olive groves damaged by frost in certain regions of Greece in 1987

COUNCIL  REGULATION (EEC) No 3222/88
of 17 October 1988
introducing a common measure for the re-establishment of olive groves damaged by frost in certain regions of Greece in 1987
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic 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),
Whereas, in order to attain the objectives of the common agricultural policy set out in Article 39 (1) (a) and (b) of the Treaty, assistance must be provided for the structural improvement of agriculture in regions which are facing serious problems;
Whereas, in certain regions of Greece, olive trees have been destroyed or seriously damaged by exceptionnaly severe and protracted frost and whereas such damage has been even greater in certain areas;
Whereas, in those areas in particular, olive-growing represents the only economic way of using the soil and accordingly steps should be taken to encourage the re-establishment of olive groves under certain conditions, in order to ensure the survival of farming while preventing any threat of soil erosion or disturbance of the water balance, to protect the environment and to preserve the landscape;
Whereas such encouragement should take the form of a system of investment aids together with additional aid to compensate olive growers for their loss of income, taking into consideration special conditions which must be met by beneficiaries;
Whereas, at the same time, the re-establishment of olive groves should help improve competitiveness by reducing production costs; whereas, therefore, with due regard for the existing structures in Greece, more advantageous conditions should be laid down where the re-establishment is carried out under a collective scheme involving several holdings;
Whereas the re-establishment of olive groves must guarantee the maintenance of a high level of quality or, where the level reached is not yet satisfactory, an improvement in quality by the use of better varieties;
Whereas, in order to ensure that these measures achieve maximum effectiveness, it is essential that they form part of a programme for the re-establishment of olive groves drawn up by the Hellenic Republic;
Whereas it should be laid down that this package of measures constitutes 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 common agricultural policy (3), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 2048/88 (4); whereas the expenditure incurred by the Hellenic Republic should be financed by the Community at the rate of 40 % in view of the limited financial resources of that Member State,