Article 16
Transmission of information to the Commission 1. Where Member States choose to implement the simplified scheme, they shall provide the Commission with details of the measures adopted to this end as well as a progress report on the implementation of the simplified scheme, including an assessment of its effects, by 31 December each year at the latest. The first report shall be submitted by 31 March 2003 at the latest. 2. Member States shall communicate each year a summary of the applications accepted under the simplified scheme, not later than 15 September of the calendar year to which they refer, indicating the amounts established for these applications in accordance with Article 3 and the corresponding amounts granted under each of the support schemes covered by the relevant regulations. They shall also indicate the data communicated to farmers pursuant to Article 4(1), (2) and (3). As regards the format for the communication of these data, Articles 6(5) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 613/97(27), Article 26 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2316/1999(28) and Article 3 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1644/96(29) shall apply mutatis mutandis. 3. Member States shall communicate each year the number of cases of withdrawal and the corresponding amount of annual support previously paid under the simplified scheme.