Rural development: support from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) following the 2004 enlargement

PURPOSE: Support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF)

PROPOSED ACT: Council Regulation

CONTENT: This proposal seeks to amend Article 47a of Council Regulation 1257/1999/EC in order to prevent any differences in treatment between the fifteen Member States and those that joined the EU on 1 May 2004, regarding the rate of the financial contribution for the agri-environmental measures applicable to the latter Member States. The rates will be brought into line with that applicable to the Member States on 30 April 2004 as from the date of accession – namely 1 May 2004.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: There would be no additional spending from the Community budget.