25. 9. 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 240/19 COMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 2627/93 of 24 September 1993 concerning flat-rate aid for sugar-cane cultivation and aid for the processing of sugar cane on Madeira THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1600/92 of 15 June 1992 concerning specific measures for the Azores and Madeira relating to certain agricultural products (), as last amended by Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1788/93 (3, and in particular Article 19 thereof, Whereas Article 17 of Regulation (EEC) No 1600/92 lays down that, if the Portuguese authorities submit a restruc- turing plan for the improvement of plantations, aid at a flat rate per hectare is to be granted for sugar cane cultiva- tion ; whereas the Community finances the aid at the rate of 60 % of eligible expenditure where the official contri- bution is at least 15 %, the Community aid being reduced accordingly where this contribution is less; Whereas the aforementioned restructuring plan has been notified to the Commission ; whereas the proposed period for the implementation of the plan is seven vyears; whereas it is therefore necessary to fix the aid per hectare in proportion to the areas in question and to the work to be considered eligible, and to establish the conditions for applying the aid scheme; Whereas Article 18 of Regulation (EEC) No 1600/92 provides for the granting of Community aid for the processing of sugar cane into sugar syrup or agricultural rum as defined in Article 1 (4) (a) (2) of Council Regula- tion (EEC) No 1576/89 of 29 May 1989 laying down general rules on the definition, description and presenta- tion of spirit drinks (*), as amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3280/92 (*) ; whereas this aid is paid to the sugar-syrup manufacturer or distiller, on condition that he has paid to the sugar-cane producer a minimum price to be deter- mined ; Whereas provisions should be made in respect of aid unduly paid out; Whereas the operative event for each of the measures provided for should be established ; whereas the appro- priate additions should be made to Commission Regula- tion (EEC) No 1713/93 of 30 June 1993 establishing special detailed rules for applying the agricultural conver- sion rate in the sugar sector (); () OJ No L 173, 27. 6. 1992, p. 1. () OJ No L 163, 6. 7. 1993, p. 14. () OJ No L 160, 12. 6. 1989, p. 1. () OF No L 327, 13. 11. 1992, p. 3. () OJ No L 159, 1. 7. 1993, p. 94. Whereas the measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Management Committee for Sugar, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION : TITLE I Flat-rate aid per hectare for sugar cane Article 1 1. In the context of the restructuring plan referred to in Article 17 of Regulation (EEC) No 1600/92, Portugal shall, in accordance with the terms of this Regulation and until the fifth year of application of the plan, pay out aid for the planting of sugar cane, aid for the replanting of sugar cane and aid for irrigation work to individual plan- ters, planter groups or associations of planters. From the sixth year of application of the plan, such aid shall be paid exclusively to planter groups or associations of plan- ters. 2. The restructuring plan shall be carried out from the date of entry into force of this Regulation over a period of not more than seven years. The total area covered by the plan shall be 200 hectares for the duration of the restruc- turing plan. Article 2 1. The Community aid for sugar cane shall be fixed for the duration of the plan at a flat rate of: (@) ECU 4370 per hectare for new plantings up to a maximum of 100 hectares ; (b) ECU 4579 per hectare for replantings up to a maximum of 100 hectares ; (c) ECU 4040 per hectare for irrigation work up to a maximum of 200 hectares. 2. Services provided by the recipient of the aid himself shall be taken into account only up to a maximum of 25% of total costs for the purposes of determining eligible costs. ~ The aid referred to in paragraph 1 shall be reduced ac- cordingly.