Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1638/98 of 20 July 1998 amending Regulation No 136/66/EEC on the establishment of a common organisation of the market in oils and fats^f1, and in particular the second indent of the first subparagraph of Article 4a(3) and Article 4a(4) thereof,

Whereas:

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1334/2002^f2 lays down, for the purposes of Community financing under Article 4a of Regulation (EC) No 1638/98, rules for the 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 marketing years on approval of operators' organisations in the olive sector and on their work programmes.

Regulation (EC) 865/2004 amends Article 5 of Council Regulation No 136/66/EEC^f3 so as to retain for the 2004/2005 marketing year the present olive oil production aid, from which the deduction is made that provides the Community funding for the work programmes of the operators' organisations. The period of validity of the above rules should therefore be extended to the 2004/2005 marketing year.

Regulation (EC) No 1334/2002 should be amended accordingly.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Oils and Fats,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: