PURPOSE: to amend and correct Regulation 1782/2003/EC and to amend Regulation 1698/2005/EC, with particular reference to the implementation of the energy crops scheme.
LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2006 amending and correcting Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers and amending Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)
CONTENT: the Council adopted a regulation extending the direct support scheme to the eight Member States not benefiting from it. It increased the eligible area for energy crops from 1.5 to 2 million hectares. Latvia, although in support, issued a statement asking that cross compliance conditions start to apply only from the year when Latvia is going to implement the Single Payment Scheme. The Council issued a statement inviting the Commission to examine further pending issues which were not taken on board in the present adaptation, either in connection with the cross compliance report or with the CAP “health check” envisaged for 2008. The Regulation also provides for the extension of the SAPS for new Member States until 2010, the simplification of the eligibility rules for olive groves and the introduction of formal direct payment rules for the sugar sector. It takes account of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania in 2007.
ENTRY INTO FORCE: 01/01/2007.
APPLICATION: 01/01/2007. However, Article 1(6) (national aid for bio-mass production) shall apply with effect from 1 January 2005, Article 1(14), (15), (17) (sugar payments) and (18) (amendment to Annex I) shall apply with effect from 1 January 2006.