Article 1

Article 7(3) of Regulation (EC) No 2222/2000 is replaced by the following:

‘3.

Taking account of the requirements of Article 10, the Commission shall de-commit any part of a commitment which has not been settled by the payment on account or for which it has not received an acceptable payment application by the following dates:

(a)

for appropriations corresponding to the 2000 annual allocation: 31 December 2004;

(b)

for appropriations corresponding to the annual allocation for 2001: 31 December 2005;

(c)

for appropriations corresponding to the annual allocation for 2002: 31 December 2006;

(d)

for appropriations corresponding to the annual allocation for 2003: 31 December 2006;

(e)

for appropriations corresponding to the annual allocation for 2004: 31 December 2007;

(f)

for appropriations corresponding to the annual allocation for 2005: 31 December 2008;

(g)

for appropriations corresponding to the annual allocation for 2006: 31 December 2008.’