CHAPTER IISUPPORT PROGRAMME

Article 3Establishing the support programme1.

The measures provided for in Article 1 shall be defined by a support programme comprising:

(a)

specific supply arrangements as provided for in Chapter III; and

(b)

specific measures to assist local agricultural production as provided for in Chapter IV.

The support programme shall be established at the geographical level which Greece deems to be the most appropriate. It shall be prepared by the competent local and regional authorities designated by Greece, which shall submit it to the Commission for approval in accordance with Article 6 after the competent authorities and organisations at the appropriate regional level have been consulted.

Article 4Compatibility and consistency1.

Measures taken under the support programme shall comply with Union law. Such measures shall be consistent with other Union policies and with the measures taken under such policies.

Consistency of the measures taken under the support programme with measures implemented under other instruments of the common agricultural policy, and in particular the common organisations of markets, rural development, product quality, animal welfare and the protection of the environment, shall be ensured.

In particular, no measure under this Regulation shall be financed as:

(a)

additional support for premium or aid schemes under a common organisation of the market, save in exceptional cases, justified by objective criteria;

(b)

support for research projects, measures to support research projects or measures eligible for Union financing under Council Decision 2009/470/EC of 25 May 2009 on expenditure in the veterinary field

OJ L 155, 18.6.2009, p. 30.

;

(c)

support for measures within the scope of Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 of 20 September 2005 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)

OJ L 277, 21.10.2005, p. 1.

Article 5Content of the support programme

The support programme shall comprise:

(a)

a schedule for the implementation of the measures and a general annual indicative financing table showing the resources to be deployed;

(b)

proof of the compatibility and consistency between the various measures under the programme and with the criteria and quantitative indicators to be used for monitoring and evaluation;

(c)

the steps taken to ensure that the programme is implemented effectively and appropriately, including the arrangements for publicity, monitoring and evaluation, and a specified set of quantified indicators for use in programme evaluation;

(d)

the designation of the competent authorities and bodies responsible for implementing the programme and the designation at the appropriate levels of authorities or associated bodies and socio-economic partners, and the results of consultations held.

Article 6Approval and amendments of the programme1.

The support programme is established under Regulation (EC) No 1405/2006 and is financed under the financial allocation referred to in Article 18(2) and (3).

The programme comprises a forecast supply balance indicating the products, the quantities thereof and the amount of aid for supply from the Union together with a draft programme of support for local production.

Depending on the annual evaluation of the implementation of measures included in the support programme, Greece may submit to the Commission duly substantiated proposals for amendments to those measures within the context of the financial allocation referred to in Article 18(2) and (3), to bring them more into line with the requirements of the smaller islands and the strategy proposed. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts laying down the procedures for assessing whether the amendments proposed comply with Union law and for deciding whether to approve them. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 22(2).

The procedures laid down by the implementing acts referred to in paragraph 2 may take account of the following elements: the importance of the modifications proposed by Greece with reference to the introduction of new measures, whether the changes to the budget allocated to the measures are substantial, changes in the quantities and in the level of aid for products in the forecast supply balances and any amendments to codes and descriptions laid down in Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 of 23 July 1987 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff

OJ L 256, 7.9.1987, p. 1.

The implementing acts referred to in paragraph 2 shall also determine, for each procedure, the frequency with which requests for amendments are to be made, as well as the time frames within which the approved amendments are to be implemented.

Article 7Monitoring and follow-up

Greece shall conduct verifications by means of administrative and on-the-spot checks. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts regarding the minimum characteristics of the checks to be carried out by Greece.

The Commission shall also adopt implementing acts regarding the procedures and physical and financial indicators in order to ensure that the implementation of the programmes is monitored in an effective manner.

Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 22(2).