TITLE IIISINGLE PAYMENT SCHEME

CHAPTER 1General implementation

Article 34Activation of payment entitlements per eligible hectare

1

Support under the single payment scheme shall be granted to farmers upon activation of a payment entitlement per eligible hectare. Activated payment entitlements shall give a right to the payment of the amounts fixed therein.

2

For the purposes of this Title, ‘eligible hectare’ shall mean:

a

any agricultural area of the holding, and any area planted with short rotation coppice (CN code ex 0602 90 41) that is used for an agricultural activity or, where the area is used as well for non-agricultural activities, predominantly used for agricultural activities; and

b

any area which gave a right to payments under the single payment scheme or the single area payment scheme in 2008 and which:

  1. (i)

    no longer complies with the definition of ‘eligible’ as a result of the implementation of Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds20, Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora21 and Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy22; or

  2. (ii)

    for the duration of the relevant commitment of the individual farmer, is afforested pursuant to Article 31 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF)23 or to Article 43 of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 or under a national scheme the conditions of which comply with Article 43(1), (2) and (3) of that Regulation; or

  3. (iii)

    for the duration of the relevant commitment of the individual farmer, is set aside pursuant to Articles 22, 23 and 24 of Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 or to Article 39 of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005.

The Commission, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 141(2), shall lay down detailed rules on the use of eligible hectares for non-agricultural activities.

Except in the case of force majeure or exceptional circumstances, hectares shall comply with the eligibility condition throughout the calendar year.