Council Regulation (EEC) No 458/80 of 18 February 1980 on collective projects for the restructuring of vineyards

COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 458/80  of 18 February 1980  on collective projects for the restructuring of vineyards
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),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),
Whereas the imbalances on the wine market can be progressively eliminated only by a set of coherent measures;
Whereas, in view of the structural situation of vineyards producing table wine and quality wine psr, the basic structures of these vineyards should be improved as part of the progressive establishment of balance on the wine market so as to rationalize work on wine-growing holdings and to increase agricultural incomes;
Whereas the measures to restructure vineyards producing table wine should be confined to wine-growing areas naturally suited to wine-growing which are not covered by certain measures of this kind provided for in Community legislation;
Whereas restructuring of vineyards cannot be effective unless the operations involved cover a fairly large area and are undertaken collectively;
Whereas restructuring operations may, depending on the case, involve not only the replacement of vines but also road improvement and irrigation works, or other technical operations necessary for the improvement of the basic structures of the vineyard in question;
Whereas in certain cases the restructuring of vineyards necessitates prior reparcelling operations the cost of which is often beyond the means of the growers ; whereas provision should therefore be made for the Member States to grant national aid for reparcelling operations with respect to either quality wines psr or to table wines;
Whereas, to be eligible for Community financing, projects must contribute in particular to a lasting improvement in working conditions on holdings, guarantee production of good quality wines and be economically justified;
Whereas, to ensure consistency of action by the Community and by the Member States, the projects to be financed by the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund, hereinafter referred to as "the Fund", should be approved and part-financed by the Member State concerned;
Whereas, to ensure that the recipients observe the conditions on which aid is granted from the Fund, an effective control system should be set up and provision made for suspension, reduction or termination of aid from the Fund;
Whereas administration of the abovementioned measure may be facilitated by granting a standard premium per restructured hectare;
Whereas such a measure serves the interest of the Community and is designed to fulfil the objectives laid down in Article 39 (1) (a) of the Treaty ; whereas it therefore 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 (4), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 929/79 (5);
Whereas aid from the Fund in the form of reimbursement of 30 % of the standard premium  (1)OJ No C 232, 30.9.1978, p. 7. (2)OJ No C 6, 8.1.1979, p. 66. (3)OJ No C 171, 9.7.1979, p. 16. (4)OJ No L 94, 28.4.1970, p. 13. (5)OJ No L 117, 12.5.1979, p. 4.  granted by the Member States constitutes an appropriate contribution by the Community;
Whereas, for the purpose of approving projects, a procedure should be established which ensures close cooperation between the Member States and the Commission within the Standing Committee on Agricultural Structure set up under Article 1 of the Council Decision of 4 December 1962 on the coordination of policies on the structure of agriculture (1) ; whereas provision should also be made for consultation of the Fund Committee referred to in Article 11 of Regulation (EEC) No 729/70;
Whereas the aid that can be granted in respect of vineyards intended for the production of table wines should be specified;
Whereas Council Directive 78/627/EEC of 19 June 1978 on the programme to accelerate the restructuring and conversion of vineyards in certain Mediterranean regions in France (2) is already being applied in these regions which are in an unfavourable situation as regards agricultural incomes and employment ; whereas, in order to ensure uniform application of certain fundamental provisions concerning the various restructuring measures, it is essential to align certain provisions of the Directive with those of this Regulation ; whereas such alignment necessitates the entry into force of this Regulation in the regions concerned as from 1 March 1980,