THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Articles 43 and 209 thereof;

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission;

Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament1;

Whereas the Community grants food aid to developing or disaster-stricken countries and guarantees the financing thereof;

Whereas under present rules this expenditure is financed in various ways depending on the products and the conditions, being either totally chargeable to Title 9 (Chapter on ‘Food-aid expenditure’) of the General Budget of the European Communities or to the Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund, or partially to each;

Whereas this situation makes it impossible to obtain a clear picture of the cost of the common market policy in the sectors concerned or of the cost of the food-aid policy; whereas, moreover, it complicates the management of appropriations, since expenditure has to be charged either to the Guarantee Section of the EAGGF or to Title 9 (Chapter on ‘Food-aid expenditure’) of the Budget, or partially to each;

Whereas the terms of Community financing of expenditure incurred in supplying agricultural products as food aid should be harmonized in the various sectors and the present rules therefore amended;

Whereas the Community should finance the value of the goods and the expenditure incurred in the various stages of implementation for which the Community is responsible by virtue of the provisions governing the said supplies, with the exception of any administrative expenditure effected by Member States;

Whereas expenditure corresponding to refunds should be charged to the Guarantee Section of the EAGGF and other expenditure should be entered under Title 9;

Whereas, in order to facilitate the implementation of Community food-aid measures, it is desirable to institute a system of advance payments for expenditure under Title 9 of the Budget, modelled on that established for the EAGGF;

Whereas provision should be made for implementing rules to be laid down, should they prove necessary,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: