L139/38 Official Journal of the European Communities 29.5.2002 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 24 May 2002 on the long-term national aid scheme for agriculture in the northern regions of Finland (notified under document number C(2002) 1903) (Only the Finnish and Swedish texts are authentic) (2002/404/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden, and in particular Article 142 thereof, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 827/68 of 28 June 1968 on the common organisation of the market in certain products listed in Annex II to the Treaty ('), as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 195/96 (3), and in particular the second paragraph of Article 5 thereof, Whereas: 1) On 26 October 1994, Finland, acting in accordance with Article 143 of the Act of Accession, notified the Commission of an aid scheme for authorisation under Article 142 of the Act of Accession. The aid scheme was approved by Commission Decision 95/196/EC of 4 May 1995 on the long-term national aid scheme for agriculture in the northern regions of Finland (}), as last amended by Decision 2000/ 405(EC (4). On 15 June 2001, Finland requested certain changes to that authorisation and subsequently presented additional information to support its request. Decision 95/196/EC has been substantially amended a number of times. In 151, 30.6.1968, p. 16. 26, 2.2.1996, p. 13. () O] L () O] L () O] L 126, 9.6.1995, p. 35. () O] L 154, 27.6.2000, p. 23. the interests of clarity and rationalisation, therefore, Decision 95/196/EC should be recast. Under Article 142 of the Act of Accession, Finland should be authorised to grant long-term national aids intended to ensure that agricultural activity is main- tained in northern regions as determined by the Commission. In order to facilitate the administration of the scheme when determining those regions, the municipality (kunta) should be chosen as the relevant administrative unit. Taking account of the factors referred to in Article 142(1) and (2) of the Act of Accession it is appropriate to specify the administrative units in subregions C,, C,, C, North, C, and C, which are north of the 62nd Parallel or adjacent to the latter, and which are affected by comparable climatic conditions rendering agricultural activity particularly difficult. These subregions have a population density lower than or equal to 10 inhabitants per square kilometre, a utilised agricultural area (UAA) considered to constitute 10 % or less of the overall surface area of the municipality and a portion of the UAA devoted to arable crops intended for human consumption less than or equal to 20 %. Municipalities surrounded by others within such areas should be entered on the list, even where they do not satisfy the same requirements. The northern region thus determined represents 1417 000 hectares (ha), accounting for 55,5 % of the total UAA of Finland.