Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 178/2014 of 6 November 2013 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 229/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down specific measures for agriculture in favour of the smaller Aegean islands

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 229/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 March 2013 laying down specific measures for agriculture in favour of the smaller Aegean islands and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1405/2006 [^ntr1-L_2014063EN.01000101-E0001], and in particular the second subparagraph of Article 11(2), the third subparagraph of Article 15(4) and Article 18(4) thereof,

Whereas:

• (1) Regulation (EU) No 229/2013 has repealed and replaced Council Regulation (EC) No 1405/2006 [^ntr2-L_2014063EN.01000101-E0002]. Regulation (EU) No 229/2013 empowers the Commission to adopt delegated and implementing acts. In order to ensure the smooth functioning of the scheme in the new legal framework, the relevant rules have to be adopted by means of such acts. The new rules shall replace the implementing rules of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1914/2006 [^ntr3-L_2014063EN.01000101-E0003].

• (2) In order to ensure that operators fully exercise their rights to participate in the specific supply arrangements, the conditions for recording them in the register of operators should be determined. Registered operators should be entitled to benefit from the arrangements provided that they meet the obligations laid down in Union and national rules. Applicants should be entitled to registration provided that they meet a certain number of objective requirements designed to facilitate the administration of the scheme.

• (3) In order to support the marketing of products outside the region in which they are produced, the conditions for establishing the amount of aid awarded in respect of such products and, where appropriate, the conditions for establishing the quantities of products subject to that aid should be established. Consequently, additional rules should be laid down relating to the support for the marketing of certain local products determining the conditions for establishing the maximum amount of aid to be awarded and the maximum quantities of product that can be subject to that aid.

• (4) In order to ensure a reasonable and proportional allocation of the financing with regard to studies, demonstration projects, training and technical assistance measures, the conditions for determining the maximum annual amount which may be allocated to those measures should be established.

• (5) For the sake of clarity and legal certainty, Regulation (EC) No 1914/2006 should be repealed,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Register of operators

Entry in the register shall be subject to the following conditions:

• (a) operators shall possess the means, structures and legal authorisations required to carry on their activities and shall, in particular, have duly complied with their obligations regarding business accounting as appropriate and taxation;

• (b) operators shall be able to prove that their activities are carried out in the smaller Aegean islands;

• (c) operators remain responsible for the compliance with all requirements subscribed when carrying out an operation of supply arrangements until the sale to the end-user.

Article 2

Amount of aid for marketing outside the production region

However, the limit set out in the first subparagraph shall not exceed 13 % of the value of the production marketed where the contractor for the producers is a producer association, union or organisation.

The value of the marketed production to be taken into account shall be that of delivery to the first port or airport of unloading.

The competent authorities may request any information or additional supporting documentation appropriate for calculating the aid.

Article 3

Financing of studies, demonstration projects, training or technical assistance measures

The amount required to finance studies, demonstration projects, training and technical assistance measures provided for in the support programme referred to in Chapter II of Regulation (EU) No 229/2013 for the purposes of implementing that programme shall not exceed 1 % of the total amount of financing provided for by Article 18(2) of that Regulation.

Article 4

Repeal

Regulation (EC) No 1914/2006 is repealed.

Article 5

Entry into force

This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 6 November 2013.

For the Commission

The President

José Manuel BARROSO

[^ntr1-L_2014063EN.01000101-E0001]: OJ L 78, 20.3.2013, p. 41.

[^ntr2-L_2014063EN.01000101-E0002]: Council Regulation (EC) No 1405/2006 of 18 September 2006 laying down specific measures for agriculture in favour of the smaller Aegean islands (OJ L 265, 26.9.2006, p. 1).

[^ntr3-L_2014063EN.01000101-E0003]: Commission Regulation (EC) No 1914/2006 of 20 December 2006 laying down detailed rules for applying Council Regulation (EC) No 1405/2006 laying down specific measures for agriculture in favour of the smaller Aegean islands (OJ L 365, 21.12.2006, p. 64).