L 213/10 Official Journal of the European Union 23.8.2003 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 14 August 2003 conferring management of aid on implementing agencies for pre-accession measures in agriculture and rural development in the Republic of Bulgaria in the pre-accession period (2003/614/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1266/1999 of 21 June 1999 on coordinating aid to the applicant countries in the framework of the pre-accession strategy and amending Regula- tion (EEC) No 3906/89 (), and in particular Article 12(2) thereof, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1268/1999 of 21 June 1999 on Community support for pre-accession measures for agriculture and rural development in the applicant countries of central and eastern Europe in the pre-accession period (3, as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 696/2003 (°), and in parti- cular Article 4(5) and (6) thereof, Whereas: (1)  The Special Accession Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development for the Republic of Bulgaria (herein- after Sapard) was approved by Commission Decision of 20 October 2000 (*), and amended by Commission Deci- sion of 21 May 2002 in accordance with Article 4(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1268/1999. (2)  The Government of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Commission, acting on behalf of the Community, signed on 18 December 2000 the Multiannual Financing Agree- ment laying down the technical, legal and administrative framework for the execution of the Sapard, as amended by the Annual Financing Agreement for 2001, signed on 19 February 2002 which finally entered into force on 29 July 2002. OJ L 161, 26.6.1999, p. 68. OJ L 161, 26.6.1999, p. 87. OJ L 99, 17.4.2003, p. 24. % C(2000) 3058 final. (3) A Sapard Agency has been appointed by the competent authority of the Republic of Bulgaria for the implemen- tation of some of the measures defined in the Sapard. The Ministry of Finance, National Fund, has been appointed for the financial functions it is due to perform in the framework of the implementation of the Sapard. (4)  On the basis of a case-by-case analysis of the national and sectorial programme/project management capacity, financial control procedures and structures regarding public finance, as provided for in Article 12(2) of Regu- lation (EC) No 1266/1999, the Commission adopted the Decision 2001/380/EC of 14 May 2001 conferring management of aid on implementing agencies for pre- accession measures in agriculture and rural development in the Republic of Bulgaria in the pre-accession period () with regard to certain measures provided for in the Sapard. (5)  The Commission has since undertaken a further analysis under Article 12(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1266/1999 in respect of Measures 1.2.1 ‘Wholesale markets’, 1.4 ‘Forestry and afforestation of agricultural areas, invest- ment in forestry holdings, processing and marketing of forestry products’, 1.5 ‘Setting up producer groups’, 2.2 ‘Renovation and development of villages, protection and conservation of rural heritage and cultural traditions’, 2.3 ‘Development and improvement of rural infrastruc- ture’, 3.1 ‘Improvement of vocational training’ and 4.1 ‘Technical assistance’ as provided for in the Sapard. The Commission considers that, also with regard to those measures, the Republic of Bulgaria complies with the provisions of Articles 4 to 6 and of the Annex to () OJ L 134, 17.5.2001, p. 65.