Agenda 2000: financing of the common agricutural policy

PURPOSE : to adapt and consolidate the specific Regulation 729/70/EEC on the financing of the common agricultural policy (CAP) to take account of the Agenda 2000 guidelines. COMMUNITY MEASURE : Council Regulation 1258/1999/EC on the financing of the common agricultural policy. CONTENT : the current decentralised financing arrangements whereby the national paying agencies finance the expenditure provided for under Community rules will remain in force. However, the EAGGF Guarantee Section now also finances rural development measures. The measures covered by the programme concerning Objective 1 and the Community initiative in favour of rural development will be financed by the "Guidance" section of the EAGGF. The "Guarantee" section finances other rural development expenditure. This includes accompanying measures and the regime for less-favoured areas in all rural regions, as well as modernisation and diversification measures covered by the programmes relating to Objective 2 and by the rural development programmes outside the Obj. 1 and 2 regions. In this context, specific financial rules have been introduced, and, in particular, the possibility of advance payments for rural development programmes. Lastly, the Fund's Guarantee section also finances certain veterinary and plant health measures, as well as the dissemination of information about the CAP. ENTRY INTO FORCE : 03/07/1999. The Regulation will apply to expenditure effected as from 01/01/2000.�