Commission Regulation (EU) No 245/2010 of 23 March 2010 derogating from Regulation (EC) No 288/2009 as regards the deadline for Member States to notify their strategies to the Commission and the deadline for the Commission to decide on the final allocation of the aid in the framework of a School Fruit Scheme

24.3.2010 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 77/50
COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 245/2010
of 23 March 2010
derogating from Regulation (EC) No 288/2009 as regards the deadline for Member States to notify their strategies to the Commission and the deadline for the Commission to decide on the final allocation of the aid in the framework of a School Fruit Scheme
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 of 22 October 2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation) (1), and in particular Article 103h(f) in conjunction with Article 4 thereof,
Whereas:
(1) In accordance with Article 4(1) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 288/2009 of 7 April 2009 laying down detailed rules for applying Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 as regards Community aid for supplying fruit and vegetables, processed fruit and vegetables and banana products to children in educational establishments, in the framework of a School Fruit Scheme (2), Member States applying for the aid referred to in the first paragraph of Article 103ga of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 for a period running from 1 August to 31 July should notify their strategy to the Commission by 31 January of the year in which that period starts.
(2) A number of Member States have faced difficulties in meeting that deadline, amongst others because they need to assess the effectiveness of their scheme following its first year of implementation.
(3) In order to give Member States additional time to evaluate their scheme and, where necessary, to modify their strategy, they should be allowed, as a transitional measure, to notify their strategy for the period running from 1 August 2010 to 31 July 2011 until 28 February 2010.
(4) Similarly, the deadline for the Commission to decide on the final allocation of the aid for the period running from 1 August 2010 to 31 July 2011 laid down in the third subparagraph of Article 4(4) of Regulation (EC) No 288/2009 should be extended until 30 April 2010.
(5) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets,