2011-2015 report on the implementation of the long-term national aid scheme for agriculture in the northern regions of Finland and Sweden

Pursuant to Article 142 of the Act of Accession to the European Union of Austria, Finland and Sweden, the Commission has authorised Finland and Sweden to grant long-term national aid to agriculture in the northern regions, in order to maintain agricultural activity. This aid is referred to as the Nordic aid.

The aid is granted in particular to maintain traditional primary production and processing naturally suited to the climatic conditions of the regions concerned, to improve structures for the production, marketing and processing of agricultural products, to facilitate the disposal of such products, and to ensure that the environment is protected and the countryside preserved.

The present report is submitted to the Council in compliance with the reporting requirement of Article 143 of the Act of Accession, where it is laid down that the Commission shall submit to the Council, one year after accession and subsequently every five years, a report on the authorisations granted and the results of the aid granted under such authorisations. Previous reports were made in 1996, 2002, 2007 and 2012.