(1)

Pursuant to the first subparagraph of Article 4(1) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2808/98 of 22 December 1998 laying down detailed rules for the application of the agrimonetary system for the euro in agriculture (1), the operative event for the area payment for nuts provided for in Chapter 4 of Title IV of Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 (2) which establishes common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and certain support schemes for farmers, and amends certain regulations, is the date of commencement of the marketing year concerned.

(2)

Pursuant to the second paragraph of Article 4 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 659/97 of 16 April 1997 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 as regards intervention arrangements in the fruit and vegetables sector (3), the marketing year for nuts commences on 1 January.

(3)

Pursuant to Article 1 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 751/2004 (4), the operative event for the exchange rate in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia (hereinafter called ‘the new Member States’) for the support schemes for which the operative event is 1 January is set, for 2004, as the date of entry into force of the 2003 Treaty of Accession.

(4)

Regulation (EC) No 751/2004 does not refer to the area payment for nuts provided for in Chapter 4 of Title IV of Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003. The operative event for the exchange rate to be used in the new Member States for that payment should, however, also be set as the date of entry into force of the 2003 Treaty of Accession.

(5)

Regulation (EC) No 751/2004 should be amended accordingly.

(6)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the relevant Management Committees,

‘(e)

the area payment for nuts provided for in Chapter 4 of Title IV of Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003.’