CHAPTER II PROVISIONS ON SPECIFIC SUPPORT MEASURES

SECTION 3 Green harvesting

Article 17Beneficiaries

The beneficiaries of the support referred to in Article 47 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 shall be wine growers as defined in point (a) of Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 436/2009.

Article 18Conditions for the proper functioning

For the purposes of Article 47 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, Member States shall adopt rules to ensure that the areas concerned will be kept in good vegetative conditions and that no negative impact on the environment nor any negative phytosanitary consequences result from the application of the measure referred to in that Article and to ensure that it is possible to check that the operations and actions are carried out correctly.

In relation to those objectives, Member States may apply restrictions to the measure based on objective and non-discriminatory criteria, including timing of different varieties, environmental or phytosanitary risks or the method to be used to carry out the measure.

Member States may adopt other conditions for the proper functioning of the measure referred to in Article 47 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013.

Article 19Eligibility criteria

Member States shall examine an application on the basis of the details given on the area concerned, the average yield, the green harvesting method to be used as well as the grape variety and the type of wine produced from it.

Article 20Ineligible actions

1.In case of complete or partial damage of the crops due, in particular, to a natural disaster within the meaning of Article 2(9) of Commission Regulation (EU) No 702/2014(1) or an adverse climatic event which can be assimilated to a natural disaster within the meaning of Article 2(16) of that Regulation before the date of green harvesting, no support shall be granted for green harvesting.

2.In case of complete or partial damage occurring between the payment of the green harvesting support and the harvesting period, no harvest insurance financial compensation of the loss of income may be granted for the area already supported.

Article 21Green harvesting in parcels for producing wines with geographical indications

The area of any parcel supported for green harvesting shall not be taken into consideration when calculating the yield limits set in the technical specifications of wines with a protected designation of origin or a protected geographical indication.

Article 22Duration of the support

In order to be eligible for support, green harvesting shall not be applied on the same parcel for two consecutive years.

Article 23Priority criteria

Member States may establish priority criteria by indicating them in the support programme. Such priority criteria shall be based on the specific strategy and objectives set out in the support programme and shall be objective and not discriminatory.

(1)

Commission Regulation (EU) No 702/2014 of 25 June 2014 declaring certain categories of aid in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas compatible with the internal market in application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (OJ L 193, 1.7.2014, p. 1).