THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005, and in particular Article 12, Article 66(5), Article 67 and Article 75(5) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Article 4(2) of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 808/2014 sets the maximum number of amendments to rural development programmes that Member States may submit to the Commission. Experience has shown that the maximum number of programme amendments should be increased to enable Member States to submit a limited number of additional amendments over the programming period. The cases in which the maximum number of programme amendments does not apply should be clarified and should include the amendments related to the adoption of certain emergency measures or to the new delimitation of areas facing significant natural constraints referred to in Article 32(5)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013.
(2)
The success of rural development programmes depends not only on good governance and their full implementation, but also on the readiness to adapt to new challenges and changing circumstances such as the migration crisis. In order to ensure good coordination of all existing intervention mechanisms, EAFRD support to actions targeted to integration of third-country nationals should be monitored at Union level.
(3)
In point 1 of Part 2 of Annex III to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 808/2014, the Leader logo has erroneously not been inserted. This should be corrected. In point 1 of Annex IV, the reference to less favoured areas should be corrected. It should be replaced by a reference to areas facing natural or other specific constraints.
(4)
Implementing Regulation (EU) No 808/2014 should therefore be amended accordingly.
(5)
The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Rural Development Committee,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: