Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard 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 amending 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^f1, and in particular Article 145 thereof,

Whereas:

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004^f2 lays down the implementing rules for the coupled support schemes provided for in Titles IV and IVa of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 and as regards the use of land set aside for the production of raw materials under the single payment scheme provided for in Title III of that Regulation and under arable crops area payment provided for in Chapter 10 of Title IV of that Regulation.

Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004 provides for the data to be communicated to the Commission by the Member States and for the different dates for the sending of this information. Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004 also requires additional information to be sent on the different support schemes. In the interest of simplification, it is appropriate to clarify the necessary information to be sent to the Commission throughout the year.

Article 64 of Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004 defines ‘set-aside’ as leaving fallow an area eligible for area payments pursuant to Article 108 of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003. In order to cover all set-aside schemes covered by Article 107 of that Regulation, it is appropriate to extend the scope of this definition beyond paragraph 1 of Article 107.

Article 171cj of Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004 provides that the weight of tobacco on the basis of which aid is calculated is to be adjusted where the moisture content differs from the levels laid down in Annex XXVIII to that Regulation for the variety concerned. Those levels should be adapted to include the correct version as facilitated by the Member States concerned.

Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004 should therefore be amended accordingly.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Direct Payments,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: