THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 of 19 January 2009 establishing common rules for direct support schemes for farmers under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers, amending Regulations (EC) No 1290/2005, (EC) No 247/2006, (EC) No 378/2007 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, and in particular Article 142(c) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1122/2009 provides, in its Article 23(1) and Article 24, for reductions to be applied in the case of late submission of a single application as well as of documents, contracts and declarations which are constitutive for the eligibility of the aid, and of an application for allocation of payment entitlements.
(2)
In accordance with Article 11(2) and Article 15(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1122/2009, Italy has fixed 15 May 2014 as the latest day until which single applications and applications for allocation of payment entitlements for 2014 can be submitted.
(3)
On 3 May 2014 certain parts of the Italian region of Marche were subject to exceptional rainfall leading to flooding, damages to infrastructure, landslides, evacuation of citizens, as well as damages to agricultural holdings and crops.
(4)
This situation has affected the ability of applicants to submit single applications and applications for allocation of payment entitlements relating to agricultural parcels in the affected municipalities within the time limits provided for in Article 11(2) and Article 15(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1122/2009.
(5)
By way of derogation from Article 23(1) and Article 24 of Regulation (EC) No 1122/2009 it is therefore appropriate not to apply reductions on grounds of late submission of single applications and applications for allocation of payment entitlements in respect of those farmers who submitted their applications relating to at least one agricultural parcel within the municipalities defined by Italy as having been subject to severe flooding in the region of Marche by 9 June 2014 at the latest.
(6)
Since the derogations should cover the single applications and applications for allocation of payment entitlements for aid year 2014, it is appropriate that this Regulation applies retroactively.
(7)
The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Direct Payments,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: