1.   Member States shall provide the quality assessment referred to in Articles 68(3), 69(6) and 70(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/2116 to the Commission in the form of reports submitted through electronic information systems enabling the exchanges of information, documents and supporting data.

2.   The reports referred to in paragraph 1 shall provide information on the underlying work in the framework of the quality assessments, in particular in respect to the results of the in situ visits and/or the analysis of imagery providing for reliable and conclusive information in respect to the actual situation on the ground, and quantify the deficiencies detected by the respective quality assessment. The results of the quality assessments referred to in paragraph 1 shall be combined to quantify the error in the number of hectares or share of areas reported in the annual performance report.

3.   In case the results of the quality assessments reveal deficiencies according to the quality assessments referred to in paragraph 1, Member State shall clearly indicate the remedial actions addressing those deficiencies in the quality assessment report. If the Commission considers that the progress in implementation of the remedial actions proposed in the previous year is insufficient, it may request the Member State to submit an action plan in accordance with Article 42 of Regulation (EU) 2021/2116.

4.   For recurrent deficiencies revealed in the quality assessment referred to in paragraph 1, the Commission shall request an action plan in accordance with Article 42(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/2116 if the same deficiencies are revealed without any improvement in the second consecutive year and are considered serious in accordance with Article 2, point (d), of that Regulation.

5.   The quality assessment report of the area monitoring system submitted in relation to year 2024 and 2026 shall list all eligibility conditions for all interventions subject to the area monitoring system with information regarding the data sources used for the analysis.

1.   Member States shall set up an electronic system for aid applications, which shall be submitted by the beneficiaries annually and contain all necessary information allowing Member States to verify the eligibility conditions for support at least for the interventions referred to in Article 65(2) and (3) of Regulation (EU) 2021/2116 as well as conditions and requirements relevant to conditionality and payment entitlements, where necessary. The system shall allow clear and unambiguous identification of beneficiaries, in particular where the automatic claim system referred to in Article 65(4), point (f), of that Regulation is used. The system shall include the geo-spatial application system and, where applicable, the animal-based application system as referred to in Article 66(1), point (b), of that Regulation.

2.   The aid applications shall be submitted within a deadline set by the Member State and relate to the calendar year of submission.

3.   Member States may provide for a single aid application covering several interventions referred to in Article 65(2) and (3) of Regulation (EU) 2021/2116, payment entitlements and conditionality.

4.   Member States may decide that a group of beneficiaries can jointly submit an aid application, provided equal treatment of all beneficiaries is ensured.

5.   Where a holding is transferred from one beneficiary to another, Member States shall consider only one aid application for that holding in the year of the transfer.

6.   For animal-based interventions under Articles 31, 34 and 70 of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, where an animal is transferred from one beneficiary to another, Member States may consider more than one aid application for that animal in the year of the transfer provided that they can ensure non-discrimination among the beneficiaries concerned, the efficiency of the checks, a fair application of eventual penalties, and the respect of the annuality of the integrated system.

7.   For the proper administration of interventions within a Member State and where more than one paying agency is responsible for managing the aid application of the same beneficiary, Member State concerned shall take all the appropriate measures to ensure that the necessary information is made available to all paying agencies involved.

1.   Member States shall establish electronic means of communication between the beneficiary and the authorities ensuring that transmitted data is reliable in view of the proper management of the interventions under the integrated administration and control system. Where supporting documents cannot be transmitted electronically, Member States shall set the same time limits for their transmission by non-electronic means.

2.   Member States may provide for simplified procedures where data is already available to the authorities, in particular where the situation has not changed since the last submission of an aid application. Member States may decide to use data derived from data sources at the disposal of national authorities for the purpose of aid applications. Member States shall ensure that those data sources offer the level of assurance necessary for the proper management of the data in order to guarantee the reliability, integrity and security of that data.

3.   Where appropriate, Member States may request the information required in any supporting documents to be submitted together with the aid application directly from the source of information.

1.   Member States shall provide to the beneficiaries, through electronic means, pre-filled forms as referred to in Article 69(3) of Regulation (EU) 2021/2116.

2.   For area-based interventions referred to in Article 65(2) and (3) of Regulation (EU) 2021/2116, the pre-filled forms shall contain the most recently updated corresponding graphic material, provided through an interface based on geographic information system in order to facilitate the geospatial declaration of areas for the purpose of these interventions and of conditionality.

3.   The pre-filled forms referred to in paragraph 1 shall indicate:

4.   Information stemming from the area monitoring system may also be provided to beneficiaries, where relevant for the aid application.

5.   For animal-based interventions concerning bovine animals or sheep and goats, Member State shall rely on an updated computer database defined in Article 2, point (25), of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2035 (6), in order to provide the pre-filled forms with the most recent information from that database, which has to be up-to-date in accordance with the deadlines provided for in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/520 (7).

6.   Member States shall provide the beneficiaries with the possibility to correct the pre-filled forms within a deadline to be established by the Member State in accordance with the conditions for the deadline to submit aid applications laid down in Article 3 and for amendment or withdrawal of aid applications laid down in Article 7.

7.   Modifications provided by the beneficiaries in the pre-filled forms shall be taken into account for the update of the identification system for agricultural parcels, the application of the area monitoring system and the computer database referred to in paragraph 5, where relevant.

8.   In view of facilitating the submission by the beneficiaries, the aid application system shall provide for guiding alerts during the application process.

9.   Member States applying the automatic claim system referred to in Article 65(4), point (f), of Regulation (EU) 2021/2116 shall ensure an equivalent level of detail as set out in this Regulation.

1.   Aid application means application for support under any of the interventions governed by the integrated system or, where relevant an application for support or a payment claim.

2.   The aid application shall at least contain:

The beneficiary shall remain responsible for the aid application and the correctness of the information transmitted. This shall also be the case when a Member State applies an automatic claim system.

3.   Member States shall ensure that the aid application contains all information necessary to extract data relevant for the correct reporting on output and result indicators referred to in Article 66(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/2116 in respect to the interventions covered by the aid application.

1.   Aid applications may be amended or totally or partially withdrawn by the beneficiary under the following conditions:

2.   In case of non-compliances with eligibility conditions detected by the administrative checks or the area monitoring system, Member States shall inform the beneficiaries allowing for the possibility to amend or withdraw the aid application in respect to the part affected by the non-compliance in accordance with paragraph 1, points (a), (b) and (c). However, for animal-based interventions under Article 34 of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 concerning bovine animals or sheep and goats, in case of non-compliances in respect to the eligibility condition to identify and register the animals, amendments or withdrawals shall be allowed only prior to the date fixed by the Member State for these requirements to be met as referred to in paragraph 2 of that Article. In order to facilitate the process for the beneficiary, Member States may proceed to the necessary corrections of the aid application in respect to the part affected by the non-compliance. However, in this case, Member States shall ensure that the beneficiary is aware of the changes introduced by the Member State and has the possibility to react in case of disagreement.

3.   For the animal-based interventions under Article 34 of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 concerning bovine animals or sheep and goats, Member States may provide that the notifications to the computer database, referred to in Article 5(5) of this Regulation, of an animal that has left the holding may substitute a withdrawal of the animal in writing.

4.   For Member States applying an automatic claim system referred to in Article 65(4), point (f), of Regulation (EU) 2021/2116 for animal-based interventions, beneficiaries may only withdraw their claim in respect of all animals relevant for the intervention that are registered in the computer database.

5.   Amendments or withdrawals shall be made with the use of the official communication channels established by the Member State.

6.   Member States shall inform the beneficiaries of the latest date to amend or withdraw the aid application. Member States shall ensure equal treatment towards beneficiaries who are subject to an automatic claim system referred to in Article 65(4), point (f), of Regulation (EU) 2021/2116.

1.   The geo-spatial application shall be used for all area-based interventions under the integrated system and for the relevant information in relation to conditionality, also in case of the beneficiaries who are subject to conditionality but are not applying for support under the area-based interventions.

2.   The geo-spatial application may also be used for the area-based interventions in the wine sector as laid down in Title III, Chapter III, Section 4, of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115.

3.   Without prejudice to Article 6, the geo-spatial application shall contain at least the following information:

1.   Without prejudice to Article 6, applications for animal-based interventions shall contain at least the following:

2.   Member States applying an automatic claim system according to Article 65(4), point (f), of Regulation (EU) 2021/2116 shall ensure equivalent level of detail as set out in paragraph 1 of this Article based on the information available in the official computerised database, which shall be up-to-date for all animals, in accordance with Article 34(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115. Under the automatic claim system, all animals of the beneficiary relevant for an intervention shall be considered as included in the claim.

1.   The area monitoring system shall apply to all aid applications for area-based interventions under the integrated system submitted in each Member State and shall be used to observe, track and assess agricultural activities and practices on hectares under these area-based interventions and at least for the purpose of annual performance reporting.

2.   Member States shall ensure that for all area-based interventions the eligibility conditions, which can be monitored with Copernicus Sentinels satellites data or other data with at least equivalent value, are subject to the area monitoring system and shall communicate this information to the beneficiaries concerned.

3.   For the purpose of the area monitoring system, an eligibility condition shall be considered monitorable when it can be monitored by Copernicus Sentinels satellites data. In order to address eligibility conditions considered monitorable, Member States may decide to use Copernicus Sentinels satellites data or any other data with at least equivalent value as provided for in Article 11. However, as from 1 January 2025, an eligibility condition shall be considered monitorable when it can be monitored by Copernicus Sentinels satellites data or geotagged photos referred to in Article 11. In order to address eligibility conditions considered monitorable as from 1 January 2025, Member States may decide to use Copernicus Sentinels satellites data, geotagged photos or any other data with at least equivalent value.

4.   For the eligibility conditions that can be monitored with geotagged photos, Member States may decide to gradually include them under the area monitoring system. Member States shall ensure that at least 70 % of interventions with eligibility conditions that can be monitored only with geotagged photos will be subject to the area monitoring system at the latest before 1 January 2027. Member States shall decide which eligibility conditions that can be monitored by geotagged photos become subject to the area monitoring system each year.

5.   For the analysis of monitorable eligibility conditions under the area monitoring system, Member States may choose to combine Copernicus Sentinels satellites data and/or other types of data with at least equivalent value in accordance with the criteria specified in Article 11 to cover the full population of aid applications concerned. Member States may also decide to perform a cascaded analysis of Sentinel satellite data and/or other types of data with at least equivalent value for the purpose of reducing the number of non-conclusively monitored cases. For eligibility conditions that can be monitored only by geotagged photos, in case of absence of input by the beneficiary, the Member State shall consider that this eligibility condition has not been met.

6.   Member States shall ensure that hectares, which do not meet the relevant eligibility conditions at the latest date allowed for amendments of aid applications in accordance with Article 7, are excluded from the annual performance reporting.

7.   In order to allow the reliable observation, tracking and assessment of agricultural activities and practices, the area monitoring system shall, at the level of agricultural parcel or units of land containing non-agricultural areas considered eligible by the Member State, ensure the detection of:

Where relevant, Member States shall use the information referred to in this paragraph for the purpose of updating the identification system for agricultural parcels.

8.   Member States shall communicate to beneficiaries the information on hectares where the relevant eligibility conditions are not met and on detected presence of ineligible area, ineligible land use or change in the category of agricultural area so that beneficiaries can make amendments to aid applications, referred to in Article 7, or provide additional evidence. Member States may also decide to communicate to beneficiaries any other provisional result including non-conclusively monitored cases allowing the beneficiaries, where necessary, to amend their applications in accordance with Article 7(1).

9.   By way of derogation from paragraph 1 and in order to allow for a gradual increase of the number of interventions subject to area monitoring system, in 2023 the system shall provide information at least on the following:

1.   For the purposes of Article 24 of Regulation (EU) 2021/2116, each Member State shall inform the Commission before 1 November of the calendar year preceding the year of the performance of the quality assessment of the area monitoring system, about its specification on the acquisition of the satellite data in respect to:

2.   For the purposes of paragraph 1, point (a), Member States shall draw the population of parcels for the quality assessment sample based on the aid applications of the year preceding the calendar year of the quality assessment. The population of the parcels for which satellite data is requested may be updated in the calendar year of the quality assessment for parcels that, following the aid applications of the calendar year concerned, are not relevant anymore for a given intervention or for parcels under interventions for which aid was not applied for the previous year.

3.   The Commission shall finalise the agreement with the Member State concerned on the information referred to in paragraph 1, points (a) and (b), before 15 January following the communication of information referred to in paragraph 1.

4.   The competent authorities or bodies representing them referred to in Article 24 of Regulation (EU) 2021/2116 must observe the provisions on copyright set out in the contracts with the suppliers.

5.   If the total requests received by Member States exceed the budget available for the application of Article 24 of Regulation (EU) 2021/2116, the Commission shall decide on a limitation of the satellite data to be provided, aiming at the most efficient use of the available resources. In addition, where Member States add parcels during the calendar year to the population for the quality assessment of the area monitoring system, the Commission may not be able to acquire all relevant imagery.