Article 61U.K.Contents of operational programmes and eligible expenditure
1.Operational programmes shall include the following:
(a)a description of the initial situation, based, where relevant, on the baseline indicators listed in Annex XIV;
(b)the objectives of the programme, bearing in mind the outlook for production and outlets, and an explanation of how the programme contributes to the national strategy and confirmation that it is consistent with the national strategy, including in its balance between activities. The description of the objectives shall refer to objectives defined in the national strategy and indicate measurable targets, so as to facilitate the monitoring of progress gradually made in implementing the programme;
(c)a detailed description of the measures, including those for crisis prevention and management, containing separate actions, to be taken and the means for attaining those objectives in each year of implementation of the programme. The description shall indicate the extent to which different measures proposed:
complement and are consistent with other measures, including measures financed or eligible for support by other European Community funds, and in particular rural development support. In this respect, a specific reference shall also be made, if appropriate, to measures carried out under previous operational programmes;
do not entail any risk of double financing by European Community funds;
(d)the duration of the programme; and
(e)the financial aspects, namely:
the method of calculation and the level of financial contributions;
the procedure for financing the operational fund;
information necessary to justify different levels of contribution; and
the budget and timetable for undertaking operations for each year of implementation of the programme.
2.Various environmental actions may be combined provided that they are complementary and compatible.
Where environmental actions are combined, the level of support shall take account of the specific income foregone and additional costs resulting from the combination.
3.Investments, including those under leasing contracts, whose repayment period exceeds the length of the operational programme may be carried over to a subsequent operational programme on duly justified economic grounds, and in particular in cases where the fiscal depreciation period is longer than five years.
Where investments are replaced, the residual value of the investments replaced shall be:
(a)added to the operational fund of the producer organisation; or
(b)subtracted from the cost of the replacement.
Investments or actions may be implemented on individual holdings of members of the producer organisation, provided that they contribute to the objectives of the operational programme. If the member leaves the producer organisation, Member States shall ensure that the investment or its residual value is recovered, unless the Member State provides otherwise.
4.Operational programmes shall not include actions or expenditure referred to in the list set out in Annex VIII.
5.Expenditure under operational programmes eligible for aid shall be restricted to the actual costs incurred. However, Member States may instead fix standard flat rates in advance and in a duly justified way in the following cases:
(a)where such standard flat-rates are referred to in Annex VIII;
(b)for additional per-kilometre external transport costs, compared to road haulage costs, incurred when using rail and/or ship transport as part of a measure to respect the environment; and
(c)for additional costs and income foregone resulting from environmental actions, calculated in conformity with Article 53(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1974/2006.
Member States shall review such rates at least every five years.
6.In order for an action to be eligible, more than 50 % by value of the products concerned by it shall be those for which the producer organisation is recognised. To be counted in the 50 %, the products shall come from the producer organisation's members or members of another producer organisation. The appropriate rules in Article 52 shall apply to the calculation of the value.