(1)

Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 establishes a common organisation of agricultural markets which includes the fruit and vegetables and processed fruit and vegetables sectors. Article 103e(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 provides that in regions of the Member States where the degree of organisation of producers in the fruit and vegetable sector is particularly low, Member States may be authorised by the Commission, on a duly substantiated request, to pay producer organisations national financial assistance equal to a maximum of 80% of the financial contributions referred to in Article 103b(1)(a) of that Regulation.

(2)

Article 91(1) of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 543/2011 (2) provides that for the purposes of Article 103e(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007, the degree of organisation of producers in a region of a Member State is to be calculated as the value of fruit and vegetable production that was obtained in the region and marketed by producer organisations, associations of producer organisations and producer groups divided by the total value of the fruit and vegetable production that was obtained in that region. In order to ensure the correct use of the national assistance, it is appropriate to clarify the rules on the calculation of the degree of organisation.

(3)

Pursuant to the second subparagraph of Article 91(2) of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 543/2011 a region is to be considered as a distinct part of the territory of a Member State, as a result of its administrative, geographical or economic characteristics. For the purposes of consistency and verifiability, it is appropriate to clarify the definition of a region and to lay down a minimum period of time during which changes to the definition of a region are not allowed, unless objectively justified.

(4)

Implementing Regulation (EU) No 543/2011 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(5)

The first subparagraph of Article 92(1) of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 543/2011 provides that requests to the Commission for the authorisation to grant national financial assistance for operational programmes to be implemented in any given calendar year are to be submitted by 31 January of that year. In order to allow the amended Article 91 of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 543/2011 to be applied in 2012, it is appropriate to provide for a derogation from the deadline provided for in the first subparagraph of Article 92(1) of that Implementing Regulation. Furthermore, a correction of requests sent before the entry into force of this Regulation should be provided for.

(6)

In order to ensure that requests for authorisation to grant national financial assistance for operational programmes to be implemented in 2012 can be submitted in accordance with the new rules, this Regulation should enter into force on the day following that of its publication. However, Article 95(1) of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 543/2011 also requires a request for Union reimbursement to be accompanied by evidence showing the degree of organisation of producers in the region concerned. This Regulation should therefore be without prejudice to requests for Union reimbursement in accordance with Article 95(1) of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 543/2011 of national financial assistance authorised by the Commission before the date of entry into force of this Regulation.

(7)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets,