Commission Regulation (EC) No 1577/98 of 22 July 1998 laying down transitional measures for the management of base areas in the new German Länder and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 1763/96

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1577/98 of 22 July 1998 laying down transitional measures for the management of base areas in the new German Länder and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 1763/96
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1765/92 of 30 June 1992 establishing a support scheme for producers of certain arable crops (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2309/97 (2), and in particular Article 16 thereof,
Whereas Article 2(6) of Regulation (EEC) No 1765/92 provides for the reduction of the area eligible for compensatory payments and for a special set-aside without compensation where the sum of the areas for which aid is claimed by producers is in excess of the regional base area;
Whereas the change from the planned economy existing in the new Länder before unification to a market economy was carried out practically without a transitional period; whereas, therefore, implementation of the reform has come at a time when agricultural production structures in the new Länder are in the process of change; whereas the loss of traditional markets in the countries of eastern Europe has led to a significant fall in livestock production and in the areas previously used for fodder production unforeseen when Regulation (EEC) No 1765/92 was adopted;
Whereas, given this situation, a solution has been found which, without giving rise to a permanent increase in the base area, which is a key element in the reform of arable farming, ensures that the strict application of the present legislation does not jeopardise the restructuring of the agricultural sector in the new Länder; whereas this solution takes the form of a transitional measure introducing a temporary extension of the base area - to be reduced in four steps - from the 1993/94 marketing year; whereas these transitional measures are provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1763/96 (3);
Whereas the factors which led to the adoption of Regulation (EC) No 1763/96 still pertain; whereas under these circumstances an extension of the transitional period is justified;
Whereas, for the sake of clarity, Regulation (EC) No 1763/96 should be replaced with effect from the 1998/99 marketing year;
Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Joint Management Committee for cereals, oils and fats and dried fodder,