Article 1

Regulation (EC) No 968/2006 is amended as follows:

1. 1..

   in Article 6(1), the following second subparagraph is added:

   ‘By way of derogation from point (b) of the first subparagraph, upon a motivated request of the undertaking concerned, the Member States can grant an extension of the deadline fixed in that point until 30 September 2011 at the latest. In such case, the undertaking shall submit an amended restructuring plan according to Article 11.’;

2. 2..

   in Article 14, paragraph 3 is replaced by the following:

   ‘3.

   The actions and measures provided for in a national restructuring programme shall be implemented by 30 September 2011.’;

3. 3..

   in Article 17, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following:

   ‘2.

   The first payment may be made in September 2007. The aid for diversification, the additional aid for diversification and the transitional aid to certain Member States shall not be paid later than 30 September 2012.’;

4. 4..

   in Article 22, paragraph 3 is replaced by the following:

   ‘3.

   Except in the case of force majeure, the security shall be forfeited if the conditions set out in paragraph 1 have not been fulfilled on 30 September 2012 at the latest.’;

5. 5..

   in Article 24, the first subparagraph of paragraph 2 is replaced by the following:

   ‘By 30 June 2012, the Member State shall submit to the Commission a final progress report comparing the actions or measures implemented and the expenses incurred to the ones foreseen in the restructuring plans, the national restructuring programmes and the business plans and explaining the reasons for deviations.’;

6. 6..

   a new Article 22b is added in Chapter V:

   ‘Eligibility of payments

   Article 22b

   Expenditure shall only be eligible for Community financing if it has been paid by the Member State to the beneficiary by 30 September 2012 at the latest.’.