Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/38
of 14 January 2016
amending Regulation (EC) No 555/2008 as regards the maximum ceiling for advances for support for investments and innovation in the context of the national support programmes in the wine sector
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 922/72, (EEC) No 234/79, (EC) No 1037/2001 and (EC) No 1234/2007(1), and in particular Article 54(b) and (f) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Articles 19(2) and 20c(2) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 555/2008(2) provide for the financial management of the support granted for investments and innovation in the context of the national support programmes in the wine sector. Those provisions set the maximum ceiling for advance payments at 50 % for the financial years 2013, 2014 and 2015 as regards the investment measure and for the financial years 2014 and 2015 as regards the innovation measure. This temporary increase compared to the normal ceiling of 20 % should continue to apply in 2016 in order to ease the implementation of those measures against the background of the difficult financial situation that still prevails in many Member States.
(2) Regulation (EC) No 555/2008 should therefore be amended accordingly.
(3) In order to ensure the continuity of the conditions provided for the investment and innovation measures as regards advances and to exclude any discrimination among beneficiaries, this Regulation should apply from 1 January 2016.
(4) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Commission Regulation (EC) No 555/2008 of 27 June 2008 laying down detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 479/2008 on the common organisation of the market in wine as regards support programmes, trade with third countries, production potential and on controls in the wine sector (OJ L 170, 30.6.2008, p. 1).