Article 48Revision of payment entitlements
1.In duly justified cases, the Member States applying Article 47 may decide, acting in compliance with the general principles of Community law, to move, in the year following the application of the single payment scheme at regional level as referred to in Article 46(1), towards approximating the value of the payment entitlements established under this Section.
Where that decision applies from 2010, it shall be taken by 1 August 2009. In any other case it shall be taken by 1 August 2010.
For the purpose of applying the first subparagraph, the payment entitlements may be made subject to annual progressive modifications in accordance with objective and non-discriminatory criteria. If the modification results in a reduction in the value of the payment entitlements, it shall be made in at least two pre-established annual steps.
2.In duly justified cases, the Member States having introduced the single payment scheme in accordance with Section 1 of Chapter 5 or Chapter 6 of Title III of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 may decide, acting in compliance with the general principles of Community law, to move, in or after 2010, towards approximating the value of the payment entitlements.
Where that decision applies from 2010, it shall be taken by 1 August 2009. In any other case it shall be taken by 1 August 2010.
For the purpose of applying the first subparagraph, the payment entitlements shall be subject to annual progressive modifications in accordance with objective and non-discriminatory criteria. If the modification results in a reduction in the value of the payment entitlements, it shall be made in at least three pre-established annual steps.
The first subparagraph shall apply without prejudice to the decisions taken by Member States pursuant to Article 63(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003. The Member States concerned may derogate from the minimum number of steps provided for in the first subparagraph and the limits established in paragraph 3 of this Article.
3.In none of the annual steps referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall the reduction in the value of any payment entitlement be more than 50 % of the difference between its initial and final value. Where the reduction in the value is less than 10 % of the initial value, Member States may apply fewer than three steps.
4.Member States may decide to apply paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 at the appropriate geographical level which shall be determined in accordance with objective and non-discriminatory criteria such as their institutional or administrative structure and the agricultural potential.