PURPOSE : to rationalise, with a view to improve their effectiveness, the measures applicable to the Aegean Islands, in particular through the establishment of programmes providing for the application of the specific supply arrangements and of measures in favour of local agricultural production in a form which is to most appropriate to the needs of the region concerned.
PROPOSED ACT : Council Regulation.
CONTENT : Council Regulation 2019/93/EEC introduces specific measures for the smaller Aegean islands concerning certain agricultural products. These measures have proven to be effective in promoting agriculture and securing supplies to these islands.
On the other hand, the administration of these arrangements leaves something to be desired. The management of the two strands of the scheme, i.e. the specific supply arrangements and support for local lines of production in the smaller Aegean islands, has proven somewhat inflexible. Adapting the supply balances to take account of even small fluctuations in demand requires the Commission to adopt legislation.
The arrangements for supporting local lines of production are, moreover, fragmented into several (micro-) measures established by the said Council regulation. It is not possible to adjust these measures without an inter-institutional legislative procedure, which slows down Community action and hampers attempts to react as quickly as possible to specific situations in the smaller Aegean islands, even though often only modest sums are involved.
In this respect, it is, therefore, proposed to change the philosophy behind the way assistance is provided for these smaller islands; by encouraging participation in decision making and speeding up the response to their specific needs.
This Regulation provides for the submission by Greece of one programme concerning the smaller Aegean islands. This programme will include a section on the specific supply arrangements for those agricultural products which are essential in the smaller Aegean islands for human consumption, as agricultural inputs or for processing, and another section on support for local production.
The Regulation does not affect the sources of financing or the intensity of Community support.
The Community will finance the programme under the EAGGF Guarantee Section at 100% up to an annual ceiling established in the Council Regulation. Part of this aid will have to be reserved for local agricultural production.
For further information concerning the financial implications of this measure, please refer to the financial statement.