(1)

The rules for the restructuring and conversion of vineyards are laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1227/2000 of 31 May 2000 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 on the common organisation of the market in wine, as regards production potential (2).

(2)

The detailed rules on financial planning and participation in financing the restructuring and conversion scheme laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1227/2000 provide that the references to a given financial year refer to the payments actually made by the Member States between 16 October and the following 15 October.

(3)

Bulgaria and Romania joined the European Union on 1 January 2007 and can benefit from the restructuring and conversion system as from this date, having also fulfilled the condition of drawing up the inventory of the production potential, as confirmed by Commission Decisions 2007/223/EC (3) and 2007/234/EC (4).

(4)

In accordance with Article 14(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999, the financial allocation between Member States must take due account of the proportion of the Community vineyard area in the Member State concerned.

(5)

For the purposes of implementing Article 14(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999, the financial allocations should be made in respect of a certain number of hectares.

(6)

Account must be taken of the compensation for the loss of income incurred by the wine growers during the period when the vineyard is not yet in production.

(7)

In accordance with Article 14(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999, the initial allocation is adapted in view of real expenditure and on the basis of revised expenditure forecasts submitted by the Member States, taking account of the objective of the scheme and subject to the funds available,