PURPOSE: to adapt Annex VIII to the act of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2006/664/EC adapting Annex VIII to the Act of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania.

CONTENT: Council Regulation 1698/2005/EC on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD ), introduces changes to the acquis on which the accession negotiations with Bulgaria and Romania were based. For a summary of Regulation 1698/2005/EC see CNS/2004/0161. The purpose of this Decision, therefore, is to adapt the Act of Accession and to make it compatible with Regulation 1698/2005/EC.

In other provisions, this Decision:

- Deletes references to “semi-subsistence” and “producer group” mentioned in Annex VIII to the Act of Accession, given that they are covered by Regulation 1698/2005/EC.

- Deletes provisions on “technical assistance” in Annex VIII since they too are covered by Regulation 1698/2005/EC.

- Harmonises provisions on the Leader axis so that Annex VIII is compatible with Regulation 1698/2005/EC. This has been done since arrangements negotiated with Bulgaria and Romania differed from those set out in the Regulation.

- Offering Romania and Bulgaria the choice either to implement support measures on advisory services which are set out in the Act of Accession or to implement support measures on advisory services established by Regulation 1698/2006/EC, since the provisions differ. This has been done to avoid double financing for the first three years of the programme.

- Following a political agreement between the Council and the Commission set out in a Joint Declaration. This Decision allows Romania and Bulgaria to extend the measures on advisory services to farmers receiving semi-subsistence support, until 2013.

- Clarifies the basis on which the 20% ceiling specified in the complement to direct payment measures are. They are provided for in point E of Section I of Annex VIII to the Act of Accession.

- Deletes a derogation set out in Annex VIII on economic viability as a condition for eligibility for investment support.

- Modifies the Community’s financial contribution for agri-environment and animal welfare measures since the co-financing rates are no longer set at measure but at axis level.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 1 January 2007. This is subject to the entry into force of the Treaty of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania.

Decision 2006/664
OJ L 277 09.10.2006, p. 0004-0006

Results of vote in Parliament

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Joseph DAUL (EPP-ED, FR), approving the proposal to adapt Annex VIII to the Act of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania.

T6-0247/2006

A6-0197/2006

A6-0197/2006

The committee adopted the report by its chairman, Joseph DAUL (EPP-ED, FR), approving unamended - under the consultation procedure - the proposal to adapt Annex VIII to the Act of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania.

PE372.134

PURPOSE: to adapt Annex VIII of the Act of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision

CONTENT: the purpose of this Council Decision is to adopt Annex VIII of the Act of Accession for Bulgaria and Romania to take account of Regulation 1698/2005/EC on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. Since the adoption of this Regulation in September 2005, it has become necessary to:

- adapt the rural development related annexes of the Act of Accession so that the negotiation results are compatible with the new acquis , where references in the Act have become obsolete or where the negotiation results are not immediately compatible with the new rural development Regulation.

In summary, the specific proposals being made are:

- LEADER - Minimum financial threshold for axis 4 : According to Regulation 1698/2005/EC each rural development programme must have a compulsory Leader axis to support locally designed and implemented rural development strategies. This axis must account for a minimum percentage of the EAFRD contribution to the programme. In the case of Romania and Bulgaria the Commission proposes the average financial contribution for the Leader axis applicable to the EU 10 of 2.5% should be applied to Romania and Bulgaria for the period 2010-2013.

- LEADER - plus type measures : Measures agreed with Bulgaria and Romania relating to support for acquisition of rural skills should be maintained even though they differ from Regulation 1698/2005.

- Advisory services : Regulation 1698/2005/EC includes provisions for the support and use of advisory services. However, the level of financial support laid down in the Regulation differs from those laid down in the Act of Accession for the period 2007-2009. In order to avoid double financing the Commission is proposing that Bulgaria and Romania be given the choice of implementing either the measures provided for in the Regulation or the measures provided for in the Act. In addition, farmers receiving semi-subsistence support will be entitled to benefit from the provision of advisory services until 2013.

- Agri-environment and animal welfare measures : the Commission is proposing apply a maximum co-financing rate for animal welfare measures of 82% for axis 2 over the entire programme and programming period. The figure of 82% differs from the maximum of 80% provided for in the Regulation. The new figure is based on the expected weighting of the agri-environment and animal welfare measures within these countries overall expenditure under axis 2.

- Complements to national direct payments : taking account of the need for consistency with provisions applicable to the EU-10 it is being proposed that the 20% ceiling should apply to the EAGGF component only to the rural development needs of the two countries. Such a measure also guards against the potentially excessive transfer of funds from the second pillar to the first pillar.

- Technical adjustments : Bulgaria and Romania will be added to the list of new Member States to which transitional measures apply under Regulation 1698/2005/EC. It has, therefore, become necessary to delete provisions in Annex VIII of the Action of Accession, which are either covered directly by the new Regulation or are no longer applicable.

COM(2006)0152
EUR-Lex

PURPOSE: to adapt Annex VIII of the Act of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision

CONTENT: the purpose of this Council Decision is to adopt Annex VIII of the Act of Accession for Bulgaria and Romania to take account of Regulation 1698/2005/EC on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. Since the adoption of this Regulation in September 2005, it has become necessary to:

- adapt the rural development related annexes of the Act of Accession so that the negotiation results are compatible with the new acquis , where references in the Act have become obsolete or where the negotiation results are not immediately compatible with the new rural development Regulation.

In summary, the specific proposals being made are:

- LEADER - Minimum financial threshold for axis 4 : According to Regulation 1698/2005/EC each rural development programme must have a compulsory Leader axis to support locally designed and implemented rural development strategies. This axis must account for a minimum percentage of the EAFRD contribution to the programme. In the case of Romania and Bulgaria the Commission proposes the average financial contribution for the Leader axis applicable to the EU 10 of 2.5% should be applied to Romania and Bulgaria for the period 2010-2013.

- LEADER - plus type measures : Measures agreed with Bulgaria and Romania relating to support for acquisition of rural skills should be maintained even though they differ from Regulation 1698/2005.

- Advisory services : Regulation 1698/2005/EC includes provisions for the support and use of advisory services. However, the level of financial support laid down in the Regulation differs from those laid down in the Act of Accession for the period 2007-2009. In order to avoid double financing the Commission is proposing that Bulgaria and Romania be given the choice of implementing either the measures provided for in the Regulation or the measures provided for in the Act. In addition, farmers receiving semi-subsistence support will be entitled to benefit from the provision of advisory services until 2013.

- Agri-environment and animal welfare measures : the Commission is proposing apply a maximum co-financing rate for animal welfare measures of 82% for axis 2 over the entire programme and programming period. The figure of 82% differs from the maximum of 80% provided for in the Regulation. The new figure is based on the expected weighting of the agri-environment and animal welfare measures within these countries overall expenditure under axis 2.

- Complements to national direct payments : taking account of the need for consistency with provisions applicable to the EU-10 it is being proposed that the 20% ceiling should apply to the EAGGF component only to the rural development needs of the two countries. Such a measure also guards against the potentially excessive transfer of funds from the second pillar to the first pillar.

- Technical adjustments : Bulgaria and Romania will be added to the list of new Member States to which transitional measures apply under Regulation 1698/2005/EC. It has, therefore, become necessary to delete provisions in Annex VIII of the Action of Accession, which are either covered directly by the new Regulation or are no longer applicable.

COM(2006)0152
EUR-Lex