Commission Regulation (EC) No 2278/2004 of 30 December 2004 amending Regulation (EC) No 2759/1999 laying down rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1268/1999 on Community support for pre-accession measures for agriculture and rural development in the applicant countries of central and eastern Europe in the pre-accession period
Commission Regulation (EC) No 2278/2004of 30 December 2004amending Regulation (EC) No 2759/1999 laying down rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1268/1999 on Community support for pre-accession measures for agriculture and rural development in the applicant countries of central and eastern Europe in the pre-accession periodTHE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1268/1999 of 21 June 1999 on Community support for pre-accession measures for agriculture and rural development in the applicant countries of central and eastern Europe in the pre-accession periodOJ L 161, 26.6.1999, p. 87. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2008/2004 (OJ L 349, 25.11.2004, p. 12)., and in particular Article 12(1) thereof,Whereas:(1)Article 26(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and amending and repealing certain RegulationsOJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 80. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 583/2004 (OJ L 91, 30.3.2004, p. 1)., as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1783/2003OJ L 270, 21.10.2003, p. 70., includes certain provisions that are not directly applicable to beneficiary countries under Regulation (EC) No 1268/1999. Article 26 can therefore no longer be referred to in Article 3 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2759/1999OJ L 331, 23.12.1999, p. 51. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 775/2003 (OJ L 112, 6.5.2003, p. 9).. Specific provisions should therefore be introduced into Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 2759/1999 to take account of the situation with regard to the applicant countries.(2)Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 1268/1999 concerns the rate of Community contribution and the aid intensities. Paragraph 2 of that Article raises the ceiling for public aid for investments in agricultural holdings, amongst others, for investments made by young farmers and/or in mountain areas. Those terms should be defined in accordance with the principles applicable to Member States.(3)Regulation (EC) No 2759/1999 should therefore be amended accordingly.(4)The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Agriculture Structures and Rural Development Committee,HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: