TITLE IIIRURAL DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT

CHAPTER IMeasures

Article 18Restoring agricultural production potential damaged by natural disasters and catastrophic events and introduction of appropriate prevention actions

1

Support under this measure shall cover:

a

investments in preventive actions aimed at reducing the consequences of probable natural disasters, adverse climatic events and catastrophic events;

b

investments for the restoration of agricultural land and production potential damaged by natural disasters, adverse climatic events and catastrophic events.

2

Support shall be granted to farmers or groups of farmers. Support may also be granted to public entities where a link between the investment undertaken by such entities and agricultural production potential is established.

X13

Support under point (b) of paragraph 1 shall be subject to the formal recognition by the competent public authorities of Member States that a natural disaster has occurred and that this disaster or measures adopted in accordance with Council Directive 2000/29/EC22 to eradicate or contain a plant disease or pest have caused the destruction of at least 30 % of the relevant agricultural potential.

4

No support under this measure shall be granted for loss of income resulting from the natural disaster or catastrophic event.

Member States shall ensure that overcompensation as a result of the combination of this measure and other national or Union support instruments or private insurance schemes is avoided.

5

Support under point (a) of paragraph 1 shall be limited to the maximum support rates laid down in Annex II.