Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products^f1, and in particular Article 10(b) thereof,

Whereas:

Article 6(1) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2659/94^f2 lays down the amounts of private storage aid for Grana padano, Parmigiano-Reggiano and Provolone cheeses. In view of the financial resources available and taking account of the development in storage costs and of market price forecasts, it is necessary to amend those amounts. As for the fixed costs, the aid measure should no longer compensate for other than daily storage costs and financial costs, as storage does not give raise to supplementary fixed costs, being part of the normal manufacturing process of those cheeses.

Regulation (EC) No 2659/94 should be amended accordingly.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: