Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1947/2005 of 23 November 2005 on the common organisation of the market in seeds and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 2358/71 and (EEC) No 1674/72^f1, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 8(2) thereof,

Whereas:

By letter dated 17 December 2007, the Finnish Government requested authorisation, for the years 2007-2010, to grant farmers aid for certain quantities of varieties of seeds and cereal seed produced solely in Finland because of its specific climatic conditions. Supplementary information was provided by letters dated 16 January and 20 February 2008.

In accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 8(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1947/2005, Finland has to transmit to the Commission by 31 December 2008 at the latest a detailed report on the results of the aid authorised. In order not to pre-empt this interim review only cultivated seeds in 2007 and 2008 may be granted at this stage.

Finland requests authorisation to grant aid per hectare for certain areas under Gramineae (grass) and Leguminosae (legumes) seeds species as listed in Annex XI to Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 of 29 September 2003 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers and modifying Regulations (EEC) No 2019/93, (EC) No 1452/2001, (EC) No 1453/2001, (EC) No 1454/2001, (EC) No 1868/94, (EC) No 1251/1999, (EC) No 1254/1999, (EC) No 1673/2000, (EEC) No 2358/71 and (EC) No 2529/2001^f2, with the exception of Phleum pratense L. (Timothy), and for certain areas under cereal seed.

The proposed aid has to meet the requirements laid down in Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 1947/2005. It concerns seeds and cereal seed varieties for cultivation in Finland which are adapted to the weather conditions in that country and are not grown in other Member States. The Commission authorisation should be limited to the varieties included in the list of Finnish varieties which are produced solely in Finland.

Provision should be made for the Commission to be informed of the measures taken by Finland to comply with the limits laid down in this Decision,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: