9.3.2007 Official Journal of the European Union L 69/5 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 248/2007 of 8 March 2007 on measures concerning the Multi-annual Financing Agreements and the Annual Financing Agreements concluded under the Sapard programme and the transition from Sapard to rural development THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to the Treaty of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania, Having regard to the Act of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania, and in particular Article 29 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 (1), and in particular Article 12(2) thereof, Whereas: (1)  Council Regulation (EC) No 1268/1999 introduced Community support for pre-accession measures for agri- culture and rural development in the applicant countries of Central and Eastern Europe in the pre-accession period (the Sapard programme) including Bulgaria and Romania in particular. (20 Article 29 of the Act of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania provides that where the period for multi- annual commitments made under the Sapard programme in relation to certain measures extends beyond the final permissible date for payments under Sapard, the outstanding commitments will be covered within the 2007-2013 rural development programme. (3)  The Sapard programme comprises several measures to be supported after accession by Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 of 20 September 2005 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) (2). (4)  To facilitate the transition between these two types of support, the period during which commitments can be made to beneficiaries under the Sapard programme should be specified. (") OJ L 161, 26.6.1999, p. 87. Regulation as last amended by Regu- lation (EC) No 2112/2005 (O] L 344, 27.12.2005, p. 23). (®» OJ L 277, 21.10.2005, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regu- lation (EC) No 2012/2006 (O] L 384, 29.12.2006, p. 8). (5)  The conditions under which projects approved under Regulation (EC) No 1268/1999 but which can no longer be financed under that Regulation can be trans- ferred to rural development programming should be specified. (6)  This Regulation is without prejudice to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1423/2006 of 26 September 2006 establishing a mechanism for appropriate measures in the field of agricultural spending in respect of Bulgaria and Romania (3). (7  In accordance with the provisions of Article 12 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2759/1999 of 22 December 1999 laying down rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1268/1999 (¥, an ex- post evaluation of the Sapard programme must be carried out. It has to be ensured that these evaluations may still be carried out and financed after 2006, beyond the period of eligibility under Sapard in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 1268/1999. (8)  Multi-annual Financing Agreements (MAFAs) and Annual Financing Agreements (AFAs) were concluded between the European Commission, representing the European Community, on the one hand and Bulgaria and Romania on the other. (9)  In areas falling within the scope of the Treaty establishing the European Community, the relationship between Bulgaria and Romania and the Community, as of 1 January 2007, when these States accede to the European Union, is governed by Community law. In principle, bilateral agreements, without any particular legal acts being necessary, continue to apply as far as they do not contradict obligatory Community law. In certain areas, the MAFAs and AFAs provide for rules which are different from Community law whilst not being contrary to any binding provisions. However, it is appropriate to foresee that in respect of Sapard the new Member States should, as far as possible, follow the same rules as those which apply to any other areas of Community law. () O] L 269, 28.9.2006, p. 10. () OJ L 331, 23.12.1999, p. 51. Regulation as last amended by Regu- lation (EC) No 2278/2004 (O] L 396, 31.12.2004, p. 36).