Article 1
1. Union aid of a total amount of EUR 28 661 259 shall be available to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to provide targeted support to milk producers affected by the Russian ban on import of Union products. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania shall use the amounts available to them as set out in the Annex on the basis of objective and non-discriminatory criteria, provided that the resulting payments do not cause distortion of competition. For this purpose, the Member States concerned shall take into account the extent of the effects of the Russian import ban on the producers concerned. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania shall make those payments by 30 April 2015 at the latest. 2. In respect of Lithuania, the operative event for the exchange rate as regards the amounts set out in the Annex shall be the date of entry into force of this Regulation.