Specific measures in favour of the smaller Aegean islands

Specific measures support agriculture in the smaller Aegean islands. They have two aims: to limit the additional costs involved in transporting certain agricultural products to these regions and to foster the development of local production.

ACT

Council Regulation (EC) No 1405/2006 of 18 September 2006 laying down specific measures for agriculture in favour of the smaller Aegean islands and amending Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 [See amending acts].

SUMMARY

The smaller Aegean islands benefit from specific supply arrangements for certain agricultural products and adapted support measures for local agricultural production. These measures, exemplified by this Regulation, aim at promoting the development of these regions which is hindered by a number of geographical and economic factors.

Specific supply arrangements

Supply of agricultural products (a list of which can be found in Annex I of the treaty) that are essential for human consumption or for the manufacture of other products is based on a specific support policy. In this respect, the authorities designated by Greece establish a forecast supply balance which quantifies annual needs for the products concerned. This forecast is then approved by the Commission.

The products benefit from supply aid which is fixed according to the additional marketing costs. Implementing the specific supply arrangements takes into account certain factors such as the particular needs of the smaller islands, traditional trade flows, the economic aspect of the aid envisaged and the development of local production.

Products covered by this scheme may only be re-exported under the conditions established by the Committee which assists the Commission. These conditions include the reimbursement of aid received. Moreover, products which are processed in the smaller islands using materials which have benefited from the specific supply arrangements may only be exported to third countries or sent to the Community within the maximum quantities defined by the Commission.

Measures in favour of local agricultural production

Greece presents a support programme which is submitted to the Commission for approval. This programme includes measures to foster agricultural production in the smaller islands. The measures must be coherent and compatible with Community legislation and policies, in particular the Common Agricultural Policy.

The support programme may include:

• a quantified description of the situation as regards agricultural production;
• the proposed strategy and expected impact in economic, environmental and social terms;
• an implementation schedule for the measures and a general summary table describing the resources to be mobilised;
• a justification of the compatibility and coherence of the various measures in the programme and a definition of the criteria and quantitative indicators used for monitoring and assessment;
• action taken to ensure that the programme is implemented effectively and appropriately;
• the competent authority designated to implement the programme and associated organisations.

Support measures

The Commission may authorise additional aid in the form of operating aid in the sectors of production, processing and marketing of the said products to implement the support programme.

Financial provisions

The specific supply arrangements and the measures fostering local agricultural production amount to a maximum of EUR 23.93 million per year. With regard to the specific supply arrangements, the maximum annual amount is EUR 5.47 million.

General provisions

The Commission is assisted by the Management Committee for Direct Payments.

Greece presents to the Commission:

• by 15 February of each year, funding for the implementation of the programme in the following year;
• by 30 June of each year, a report on the measures laid down in this Regulation.

The Commission presents a general report on the impact of action carried out pursuant to this Regulation to the European Parliament and the Council by 31 December 2011.

Context

The first unique support framework for agriculture in the Aegean islands was presented in Regulation No 2019/93, which laid down specific supply arrangements and specific aid measures for certain sectors such as potatoes, vines and olive growing. In view of the success of this system, this Regulation aims at maintaining this aid whilst reinforcing partnerships with local authorities and giving them more freedom to manage funding.

RELATED ACTS

Application procedure

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1914/2006 of 20 December 2006 laying down detailed rules for applying Council Regulation (EC) No 1405/2006 laying down specific measures for agriculture in favour of the smaller Aegean islands [Official Journal L 365 of 21.12.2006].

This Regulation contains the application procedure for measures in favour of the smaller Aegean islands. Concerning specific supply arrangements, it describes the function of administrative components such as the aid certificate and the register of operators, gives details of export conditions and explains the procedure for inspection and exports. With regard to measures in favour of local production, the Regulation describes how the amount of aid is determined, how applications are to be submitted and how aid is paid, as well as the principles governing inspections relating to the proper use of aid and sanctions.

See consolidated version

Transmission of information

Commission Regulation (EC) No 792/2009 of 31 August 2009 laying down detailed rules for the Member States' notification to the Commission of information and documents in implementation of the common organisation of the markets, the direct payments' regime, the promotion of agricultural products and the regimes applicable to the outermost regions and the smaller Aegean islands [Official Journal L 228 of 1.9.2009].

Last updated: 16.09.2009