PURPOSE : to amend Regulation 1257/1999/EC on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) in order to allow new Member States to take investment costs into account under certain conditions when determining the level of the annual support under the "Meeting standards" measure.
PROPOSED ACT : Council Regulation.
CONTENT : the Act of Accession provided to the new Members States the measure "Support for compliance with Community standards", financed under EAGGF Guarantee section, to adapt to standards established by the Community in the field of the environment; public, animal and plant health; animal welfare and occupational safety until such time as the required standard is due to be met. This was intended to support farmers' efforts to reach EU standards during the transition period granted by giving them additional transfers to offset the costs of compliance.
The CAP reform introduced a general "Meeting standards" measure intended to help farmers adapt to the operating costs resulting from newly introduced EU standards.
The proposed Regulation aims to introduce a further derogation should be introduced to Council Regulation 1257/1999/EC to allow new Member States to take investment costs into account under certain conditions when determining the level of the annual support under the "Meeting standards" measure.
This temporary derogation would be limited to the 2004-2006 programming period.
The proposed measure does not involve additional spending from the Community budget. It allows the implantation of the dispositions concerning the "Meeting standards" in the new Member States. It will be financed within the envelopes 2004-2006 approved for the new Member States.�