23.3.2001 Official Journal of the European Communities L 84/1 | (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 558/2001 of 19 March 2001 extending for a period of up to one year the financing of certain quality and marketing improvement plans approved under Title Ila of Regulation (EEC) No 1035/72 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 ('), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Whereas: (1)  Title ITa of Council Regulation (EEC) No 1035/72 of 18 May 1972, on the common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables (), provided for various specific measures to make good the inadequacy of production and marketing facilities for certain nuts and locust beans. Aid is provided to producer organisations which have received specific recognition and which have submitted a plan approved by the competent authority for improving the quality and the marketing of their produce. (2)  Regulation (EEC) No 1035/72 was repealed by Regula- tion (EC) No 2200/96 (. However, as specified by Article 53 of Regulation (EC) No 2200/96, any rights acquired by producer organisations in application of Title Ila of Regulation (EEC) No 1035/72 are to be maintained until exhausted. (3)  The specific aid granted towards the drawing up and implementation of the quality and marketing improve- (') Opinion delivered 29 November 2000 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (*) Opinion delivered 15 February 2001 (not yet published in the Offi- cial Journal). () OJ L 118, 20.5.1972, p. 1. Regulation as last amended prior to its repeal by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1363/95 (O] L 132, 16.6.1995, p. 8). (*) OJ L 297, 21.11.1996, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regula- tion (EC) No 2826/2000. (O] L 328, 23.12.2000, p. 2). () O] L 85, 30.3.1989, ment plan as specified in Article 14(d)(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 1035/72 is restricted to a period of 10 years. (4) A number of plans expired in 2000, having completed the tenth year. (5)  Regulation (EC) No 2200/96 provides that the Commis- sion shall send the Council a report on the operation of that Regulation. This report shall include an assessment of the results of the specific measures for nuts and locust beans carried out under Title Ila of Regulation (EEC) No 1035/72 and may provide for further support measures. Until such time, those producer organisations whose improvement plans expired in 2000, and who continue to fulfil the recognition criteria, may request continued financing of their plans within the 2001 budget. (6)  Only aid applications in respect of work carried out until 15 June 2001 qualify for financing within the 2001 budget. (7 In order to simplify administrative procedures, aid is limited to a maximum of those areas for which an aid application was made in the tenth year of the plan. (8)  The abovementioned period of up to one year is not sufficient to complete work of grubbing operations followed by replanting and/or varietal reconversion. The maximum aid per hectare therefore should be paid in respect of other operations as specified in Article 2(1) third subparagraph and paragraph 2 of Council Regula- tion (EEC) No 790/89 of 20 March 1989 fixing the level of additional flat-rate aid for the formation of producers' organisations and the maximum amount applied to aid for quality and marketing improvement in the nut-and locust bean-growing sector (%), p. 6. Regulation as last amended by Commis- sion Regulation (EC) No 1825/97 (OJ L 260, 23.9.1997, p. 9).