Article 1

Regulation (EC) No 1433/2003 is hereby amended as follows:

1. 1..

   the following paragraph is added to Article 11:

   ‘Producer groups applying for recognition as producer organisations under Article 11(2) of Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 may at the same time submit the operational programmes referred to in the first paragraph for approval. Approval of those programmes shall be subject to obtainment of recognition no later than the final date laid down in Article 13(2).’;

2. 2..

   the following subparagraph is added to Article 13(2):

   ‘However, for duly justified reasons, Member States may take a decision on operational programmes and funds not later than 20 January following the date of the application. The approval decision may stipulate that expenditure is eligible from 1 January of the year following the application.’;

3. 3..

   the following subparagraph is added to Article 14(3):

   ‘However, for duly justified reasons, Member States may take a decision on amendments to operational programmes not later than 20 January following the date of the application. The approval decision may stipulate that expenditure is eligible from 1 January of the year following the application.’;

4. 4..

   the following subparagraph is added to Article 16(2):

   ‘Where Article 13(2) or Article 14(3) are applied, and notwithstanding the first and second subparagraphs, the implementation of operational programmes approved in accordance with these provisions shall commence not later than 31 January following their approval.’;

5. 5..

   the third paragraph of Article 17 is replaced by the following:

   ‘Where Article 13(2) or Article 14(3) are applied, and notwithstanding the second subparagraph, Member States shall give notification of the approved amount of aid not later than 20 January.

   Member States shall communicate to the Commission not later than 31 January the total amount of aid approved for all operational programmes.’