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Subject matter and scope
1. This Regulation lays down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 as regards the fruit and vegetables and processed fruit and vegetables sectors, with the exception of marketing standards. 2. Chapters I to V shall only apply to products of the fruit and vegetables sector as referred to in Article 1(2)(i) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 and to such products intended solely for processing.
National strategy for sustainable operational programmes
The structure and content of the national strategy referred to in Article 36(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 shall be as set out in Annex I to this Regulation.
National framework for environmental actions and the eligible investments
1. A separate section of the national framework referred to in Article 36(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, shall indicate the requirements laid down in Article 28 of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 6 ) to be fulfilled by the environmental actions selected under an operational programme. The national framework shall set out a non-exhaustive list of environmental actions and the conditions thereof applicable in the Member State for the purposes of Article 33(5) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013. The list referred to in the second subparagraph may include the following types of environmental actions: (a) actions that are identical to agri-environment-climate or organic farming commitments as referred to in Articles 28 and 29 of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013, respectively, and which are provided for under the rural development programme of the Member State concerned; (b) investments beneficial for the environment; (c) other actions beneficial for the environment, including those which do not relate directly or indirectly to a particular parcel but that are linked to the fruit and vegetables sector, provided they contribute to soil protection, water or energy saving, improvement or maintenance of water quality, habitats or biodiversity protection, climate change mitigation and reduction or improved management of waste. For each environmental action referred to in points (b) and (c) of the third subparagraph, the national framework shall indicate: (a) the justification of the action, on the basis of its environmental impact; and (b) the specific commitment(s) entailed. The national framework shall include at least one action on the application of integrated pest management practices. 2. Environmental actions which are identical to agri-environmental-climate or organic farming commitments supported under a rural development programme shall have the same duration as those commitments. Where the duration of the action exceeds the duration of the initial operational programme, the action shall be continued in a subsequent operational programme. Member States may authorise shorter durations for environmental actions or even their discontinuance in duly justified cases, and in particular taking into account the results of the evaluation in the last but one year of the implementation of the operational programme referred to in Article 57(3) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/891. 3. Investments beneficial for environment made at the premises of producer organisations, associations of producer organisations or subsidiaries complying with the 90 % requirement referred to in Article 22(8) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/891, or at the premises of their producer members shall be eligible for support if they: (a) could achieve a reduction in the current use of production inputs, emission of pollutants or waste from the production process; or (b) could achieve replacement of the use of fossil energy sources with renewable energy sources; or (c) could achieve a reduction in the environmental risks linked to the use of certain production inputs, including plant protection products or fertilisers; or (d) lead to improvement of the environment; or (e) are linked to non-productive investments needed to achieve the objectives of an agri-environmental-climate or organic farming commitment, in particular where those objectives relate to the protection of habitats and biodiversity. 4. Investments referred to in point (a) of paragraph 3 shall be eligible for support if they provide for a reduction of at least 15 %, calculated over the fiscal depreciation period of the investment compared to the pre-existing situation, of: (a) the use of production inputs that are non-renewable natural resources, such as water or fossil fuel, or possible source of environmental pollution, such as fertilisers, plant protection products or certain types of energy sources; (b) the emission of air, soil or water pollutants from the production process; or (c) the production of waste, including waste water, from the production process. By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, Member States may accept investments that allow for a reduction of at least 7 %, calculated over the fiscal depreciation period of the investment compared to the pre-existing situation, provided that those investments allow for at least one additional environmental benefit. The expected reduction and, where applicable, the expected additional environmental benefit, shall be demonstrated ex ante through project specifications or other technical documents to be presented by the producer organisation or association of producer organisations at the moment of the submission of the proposed operational programme or of the amendment of such a programme for approval, showing the results that could be obtained through the implementation of the investment, as attested by the technical documents or by an independent qualified body or expert agreed by the Member State. Investments aimed to achieve a reduction in water use shall: (a) provide for a reduction of at least 5 % in water use in drip irrigation or similar systems compared to the consumption prior to the investment; and (b) not result in a net increase of the area under irrigation, unless the total water consumption for irrigation of the whole farm, including the increased area, does not exceed the average of water consumption of the previous 5 years prior to the investment. 5. Investments referred to in point (b) of paragraph 3 consisting of systems which generate energy shall be eligible for support if the amount of energy generated does not exceed the amount that can be used ex ante on a yearly basis for the actions related to fruit and vegetables by the producer organisation, association of producer organisations, subsidiary or the producer organisation's members that benefit from the investment. 6. Investments referred to in points (c) and (d) of paragraph 3 shall be eligible for support where they contribute to soil protection, water or energy saving, improvement or maintenance of water quality, habitats or biodiversity protection, climate change mitigation, and reduction or improved management of waste, although their contribution is not quantifiable. The producer organisation or association of producer organisations shall provide evidence of the expected positive contribution to one or more environmental objectives at the moment of the submission for approval of the proposed operational programme or amendment of such a programme. The national competent authority may require that evidence to be provided in the form of project specifications attested by an independent qualified body or expert in the environmental fields concerned. 7. The following rules shall apply to environmental actions: (a) various environmental actions may be combined provided that they are complementary and compatible. Where environmental actions other than investments in physical assets are combined, the level of support shall take account of the specific income foregone and additional costs resulting from the combination; (b) commitments to limit the use of fertilisers, plant protection products or other inputs shall be accepted only if such limitations can be assessed in a way that provides assurance about compliance with those commitments; (c) investments beneficial for the environment referred to in paragraph 3 shall be fully eligible for support.
Content of operational programmes
1. Operational programmes shall include the following: (a) a description of the initial situation, based, where relevant, on the common baseline indicators listed in point 5 of Annex II; (b) the objectives of the programme, taking into account the outlook for production and outlets, with an explanation of how the programme intends to contribute to and is consistent with the objectives of the national strategy, including the balance between activities. The description of the objectives shall indicate measurable targets, so as to facilitate the monitoring of progress gradually made in implementing the programme; (c) the proposed measures, including the actions for crisis prevention and management; (d) the duration of the programme; and (e) the financial aspects, in particular: (i) the method of calculation and the level of financial contributions; (ii) the procedure for financing the operational fund; (iii) information necessary to justify different levels of contribution; and (iv) the budget and timetable for operations for each implementation year of the programme. 2. Operational programmes shall indicate: (a) the extent to which the different measures complement and are consistent with other measures, including measures financed or eligible for support by other Union funds, and in particular under Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 and promotion programmes approved under Regulation (EU) No 1144/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 7 ) . If applicable, specific reference shall also be made to measures carried out under previous operational programmes; and (b) that they do not entail any risk of double financing by Union funds.
Documents to be submitted with the operational programme
Operational programmes shall be accompanied by: (a) evidence of the creation of an operational fund; (b) a written commitment from the producer organisation to comply with Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/891 and this Regulation; and (c) a written commitment from the producer organisation that it has not received and will not receive, directly or indirectly, any other Union or national funding in respect of actions qualifying for aid under Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 in the fruit and vegetables sector.
Time limit for submission
1. An operational programmes shall be submitted for approval by a producer organisation to the competent authority of the Member State in which the producer organisation has its headquarters, by 15 September of the year preceding that in which the programme is to be implemented. However, Member States may set a date later than 15 September. 2. When a legal entity or clearly defined part of a legal entity, including a producer group formed pursuant to Article 125e of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 or a producer group referred to in Article 27 of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013, submits an application for recognition as a producer organisation it may, at the same time, submit for approval the operational programme referred to in paragraph 1. Approval of the operational programme shall be subject to recognition being granted no later than on the final date laid down in Article 33(2) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/891.
Implementation periods of operational programmes
1. Operational programmes shall be implemented in annual periods running from 1 January to 31 December. 2. Operational programmes approved by 15 December shall be implemented from 1 January of the following year. The implementation of programmes approved after 15 December shall be postponed for one year. 3. By way of derogation from paragraph 2, where the third subparagraph of Article 33(2) or the second subparagraph of Article 34(1) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/891 applies, the implementation of operational programmes approved in accordance with those provisions shall start not later than 31 January following their approval.
Approved amount of aid
Member States shall notify producer organisations and associations of producer organisations of the approved amount of aid by 15 December of the year preceding the year for which aid is requested. By way of derogation from the first paragraph, where the third subparagraph of Article 33(2) or the second subparagraph of Article 34(1) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/891 applies, Member States shall notify those organisations and associations of the approved amount of aid by 20 January of the year for which aid is requested.
Aid applications
1. Producer organisations shall submit an application for aid, or the balance thereof, to the competent authority of the Member State for each operational programme for which aid is requested by 15 February of the year following the year for which the aid is requested. 2. The aid applications shall be accompanied by supporting documents showing: (a) the aid requested; (b) the value of marketed production; (c) the financial contributions levied on its members and those of the producer organisation itself; (d) the expenditure incurred in respect of the operational programme; (e) the expenditure concerning crisis prevention and management broken down by actions; (f) the proportion of the operational fund spent on crisis prevention and management broken down by actions; (g) compliance with Article 33(3), the first subparagraph of Article 33(5) and Article 34 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013; (h) a written commitment that it has not received any duplicate Union or national funding in respect of measures or operations qualifying for aid under Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 in the fruit and vegetables sector; (i) in the case of an application for payment based on standard flat rates or scales of unit costs as referred to in Article 31(2) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/891, proof of the implementation of the action concerned; and (j) the annual report referred to in Article 21. 3. The aid applications may cover expenditure programmed but not incurred if the following elements are proved: (a) the operations concerned could not be carried out by 31 December of the year of implementation of the operational programme, for reasons beyond the control of the producer organisation concerned; (b) those operations can be carried out by 30 April of the year following the year for which the aid is requested; and (c) an equivalent contribution from the producer organisation remains in the operational fund. The aid shall be paid and the security lodged in accordance with Article 11(2) shall be released only on condition that proof of implementation of the programmed expenditure referred to in point (b) of the first subparagraph of this paragraph is provided by 30 April of the year following that for which the expenditure in question was programmed, and on the basis that the entitlement to the aid is established. 4. In exceptional and duly justified cases, the competent authority of the Member State may accept applications after the date provided for in paragraph 1, if the necessary checks have been carried out and the time limit for payment provided for in Article 10 is complied with. Where applications are submitted after the date provided for in paragraph 1, the aid shall be reduced by 1 % for each day the application is late. 5. Associations of producer organisations may submit an application for aid as referred to in paragraph 1 in the name and on behalf of only those members that are producer organisations recognised in the same Member State which recognised the association of producer organisations and provided that the supporting documents referred to in paragraph 2 are submitted for each member. The producer organisations shall be the final beneficiaries of the aid. 6. Producer organisations which are members of transnational associations of producer organisations shall apply for aid in the Member State where they are recognised regarding actions implemented on the territory of that Member State. The transnational association of producer organisations shall provide the Member State where it has its headquarters with a copy of the application. 7. Without prejudice to paragraph 6, transnational associations of producer organisations may submit an application for aid in the Member State where the association has its headquarters regarding actions implemented at the level of the association provided that there is no risk of double funding.
Payment of the aid
Member States shall pay the aid by 15 October of the year following the year of implementation of the programme.
Advance payments
1. Applications for advance payments may be submitted as decided by the Member State, either on a three-monthly basis in January, April, July and October or on a four-monthly basis in January, May and September. Total advance payments made for a given year shall not exceed 80 % of the initially approved amount of aid for the operational programme. 2. Advance payments shall be paid subject to the lodging of a security equivalent to 110 % thereof in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 907/2014 ( 8 ) . 3. Member States may set a minimum amount and the deadlines for advance payments.
Partial payments
1. Member States may permit producer organisations to apply for the payment of the part of the aid corresponding to the amounts already spent under the operational programme. 2. Applications may be submitted at any time, but no more than three times each year. They shall be accompanied by supporting documents, such as invoices and documents proving that the payment has been made. 3. Payments in respect of applications for parts of the aid shall not exceed 80 % of the part of the aid corresponding to the amounts already spent under the operational programme for the period concerned. Member States may set a minimum amount for partial payments and deadlines for applications.
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Source: EUR-Lex (Publications Office of the EU), © European Union, reuse permitted under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU.