Commission Regulation (EC) No 1519/2002 of 23 August 2002 derogating from Council Regulation (EC) No 1251/1999 establishing a support system for producers of certain arable crops, as regards the area payments for certain arable crops and the payments for set-aside for the 2002/2003 marketing year to producers in certain regions of Italy

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1519/2002
of 23 August 2002
derogating from Council Regulation (EC) No 1251/1999 establishing a support system for producers of certain arable crops, as regards the area payments for certain arable crops and the payments for set-aside for the 2002/2003 marketing year to producers in certain regions of Italy
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1251/1999 of 17 May 1999 establishing a support system for producers of certain arable crops(1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1038/2001(2), and in particular Article 9 thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Under the third indent of the second paragraph of Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 1251/1999, the Commission may allow Member States, subject to the budgetary situation, to authorise, by way of derogation from Article 8(1), payments prior to 16 November (the normal payment date) in certain regions of up to 50 % of the area payments and the payment for set-aside in years in which exceptional climatic conditions have so reduced yields that producers face severe financial difficulties.
(2) The production of arable crops in the Italian regions of the "Mezzogiorno" and the islands of Sicily and Sardinia has been affected by exceptionally dry weather conditions during and after the flowering period. This exceptional situation has resulted in an exceptionally low average yield.
(3) Some producers are in severe financial difficulties as a result.
(4) This being the case in Italy, and in view of the budgetary situation, that country should be authorised to make, before 16 November 2002, advance payments of area aid for cereals and advance payments of set-aside aid for the 2002/2003 marketing year.
(5) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Cereals,