27.6.2001 Official Journal of the European Communities L1731 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1244/2001 of 19 June 2001 amending Regulation (EC) No 1259/1999 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 37 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (%), Whereas: (1) For direct payments under the various income support schemes in the common agricultural policy, statistics show that a high number of farmers receive very small amounts. The aid schemes make no distinction between farmers receiving small amounts and those receiving larger amounts, the eligibility conditions and administrative and control provisions being the same. (2)  Setting up a simplified aid scheme for farmers receiving small amounts can contribute to reducing the administrative burden at the level of farmers, national administrations and the Commission. It is appropriate to test the efficiency of such a scheme for a trial period. Farmers entitled to small amounts or willing to accept a smaller amount of aid should receive, during a minimum period, one global payment per year, under simplified conditions. Due to its temporary nature, participation in the scheme should be on a voluntary basis both for Member States and farmers in the Member States that decide to apply the scheme. (3)  In order to simplify administrative procedures, Member States should be allowed to make single combined payments to participating farmers, covering the aids granted under this simplified scheme and those granted under other support schemes. (4 Without prejudice to the existing common rules for direct support schemes established by Regula- tion (EC) No 12591999 (%), taking into account that the scheme is on a trial basis, it is appropriate to provide the Commission with the necessary flexibility to implement the scheme. To achieve the aim of simplification, it may moreover be necessary to derogate, in certain well defined and justified cases, from the existing rules provided for in the relevant Regulations concerning the support aids as well as Council Regulation (EEC) No 3508/92 of 27 November 1992 establishing an integrated administration and control system for certain Community aid schemes (¥. (5)  Regulation (EC) No 1259/1999 establishes common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy. It is therefore appropriate to amend it to include this simplified scheme. ) O] C 120E, 24.4.2001, p. 146. %) Opinion delivered 14 June 2001 (not yet published in the Official Journal). ) O] L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 113. ) O] L 355, 5.12.1992, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 495/2001 (O] L 72, 14.3.2001, p. 6).