Article 1

Regulation (EC) No 1974/2006 is amended as follows:

1. 1..

   Article 57(2) is replaced by the following:

   ‘2.

   Rural development programmes may cover State aid intended to provide financial contributions provided by Member States as counterpart of Community support in accordance with Article 88 of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 in favour of measures pursuant to Articles 25, 43 to 49 and 52 of that Regulation and of operations under measures pursuant to Articles 21, 24, 28, 29 and 30 of that Regulation or additional national funding in accordance with Article 89 of that Regulation in favour of the measures pursuant to Articles 25, 27, 43 to 49 and 52 of that Regulation and of operations under measures pursuant to Articles 21, 24, 28, 29 and 30 of that Regulation, falling outside the scope of Article 36 of the Treaty, only if the State aid is identified in accordance with point 9.B of Annex II to this Regulation.’;

2. 2..

   In Article 63, paragraph 8 is replaced by the following:

   ‘8.

   In cases of force majeure or exceptional circumstances, and in particular of malfunctioning of the System or a lack of a lasting connection, the Member State may submit the documents to the Commission in hard copy or by other appropriate electronic means. Such submission shall require the prior and formal agreement of the Commission.

   Once the cause of force majeure or exceptional circumstance preventing use of the System ceases, the Member State shall input the documents concerned into the System. In this event, the date of sending shall be deemed to be the date of submission of the documents in hard copy or by other appropriate electronic means.’;

3. 3..

   Annexes II, V and VI are amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.