THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 of 22 October 2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation), and in particular Article 103h(f) in conjunction with Article 4 thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
In accordance with Article 4(1) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 288/2009, Member States applying for the aid referred to in Article 103ga(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 for a period running from 1 August to 31 July should notify the Commission of their strategy by 31 January of the year in which that period starts.
(2)
Following the Commission proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation), and the political agreement reached by the co-legislators on the future common agricultural policy (CAP), important elements of the School Fruit Scheme will change as from 1 January 2014, notably the total amount of aid and the new co-financing rates.
(3)
The application of the new elements of the School Fruit Scheme from 1 January 2014 will make it impossible for Member States to adapt their strategies to the new framework before the deadline for notification of the strategy.
(4)
Therefore, Member States wishing to implement a School Fruit Scheme for the school year 2014/2015 should be allowed, as a transitional measure, to notify the Commission of their strategy and aid application for the period running from 1 August 2014 to 31 July 2015 until 30 April 2014.
(5)
Similarly, in view of the changes to be introduced by the new CAP in the global budget for the School Fruit Scheme, the deadline for the Commission to decide on the final allocation of the aid for the period running from 1 August 2014 to 31 July 2015 laid down in the third subparagraph of Article 4(4) of Regulation (EC) No 288/2009 should be extended until 30 June 2014.
(6)
The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: