Article 14U.K.Flexibility between pillars
1.By 31 December 2013, Member States may decide to make available, as additional support for measures under rural development programming financed under the EAFRD as specified under Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013, up to 15 % of their annual national ceilings for calendar year 2014 set out in Annex VIII to Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 and of their annual national ceilings for calendar years 2015 to 2019 set out in Annex II to this Regulation. As a result, the corresponding amount shall no longer be available for granting direct payments.
The decision referred to in the first subparagraph shall be notified to the Commission by 31 December 2013. That decision shall set out the percentage referred to in that subparagraph, which may vary by calendar year.
Member States which do not take the decision referred to in the first subparagraph in respect of calendar year 2014 may, by 1 August 2014, take that decision in respect of calendar years 2015 to 2019. They shall notify the Commission of any such decision by that date.
Member States may decide to review the decisions referred to in this paragraph with effect from calendar year 2018. Any decisions based on such review shall not result in a decrease of the percentage notified to the Commission in accordance with the first, second and third subparagraphs. Member States shall notify the Commission of any decision based on such review by 1 August 2017.
2.By 31 December 2013, Member States which do not take the decision referred to in paragraph 1 may decide to make available as direct payments up to 15 % or, in the case of Bulgaria, Estonia, Spain, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom, up to 25 % of the amount allocated to support for measures under rural development programming financed under the EAFRD in the period 2015-2020, as specified in Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013. As a result, the corresponding amount shall no longer be available for support measures under rural development programming.
The decision referred to in the first subparagraph shall be notified to the Commission by 31 December 2013. That decision shall set out the percentage referred to in that subparagraph, which may vary by calendar year.
Member States which do not take the decision referred to in the first subparagraph in respect of financial year 2015 may, by 1 August 2014, take that decision in respect of financial years 2016 to 2020. They shall notify the Commission of any such decision by that date.
Member States may decide to review the decisions referred to in this paragraph with effect for financial years 2019 and 2020. Any decisions based on such review shall not result in an increase of the percentage notified to the Commission in accordance with the first, second and third subparagraphs. Member States shall notify the Commission of any decision based on such review by 1 August 2017.