Rural development: adaptation of the Act of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania to make it compatible with Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005

PURPOSE: to adapt the Act of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania in so far as rural development is concerned.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2006/663/EC adapting the Act of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania as regards rural development.

CONTENT: Council Regulation 1698/2005/EC on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), introduces changes to the acquis on which the accession negotiations with Bulgaria and Romania were based. For a summary of Regulation 1698/2005/EC see CNS/2004/0161. The purpose of this Decision, therefore, is to adapt the Act of Accession and to make it compatible with Regulation 1698/2005/EC.

Transitional and implementing rules concerning the rural development programme will begin on 1 January 2007. References to these procedural provisions, which are provided for in Romania’s and Bulgaria’s Act of Accession, need to be adapted accordingly. In addition, the Council and Commission reached a political agreement, which states measures on advisory services, provided for in Annex VIII to farmers receiving semi-subsistence support can be extended until 2013.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 1 January 2007. This is subject to the entry into force of the Treaty of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania.