26.6.1999 Official Journal of the European Communities L 160/1 I (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1251/1999 of 17 May 1999 establishing a support system for producers of certain arable crops THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 36 and 37 thereof, Having regard to the from the Commission (1), proposal Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (%), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (%), Having regard to the opinion of the European Court of Auditors (), (1) Whereas the common agricultural policy aims to attain the objectives referred to in Article 33 of the Treaty, taking account of the market situation; (2) Whereas, in order to ensure better market balance, a new scheme of support was introduced by Council Regulation (EEC) No 1765/92 of 30 June 1992 establishing a support system for producers of certain arable crops (°); (3) Whereas, after the 1992 reform of the common agricultural policy, there has been a particular improvement of market balances; Yy OJ C 170, 4.6.1998, p. 4. (3) Opinion delivered on 6 May 1999 (not yet published in the Official Journal). (3) OJ C 284, 14.9.1998, p. 55. (*) OJ C93,6.4.1999, p. 1. () OJ C 401, 22.12.1998, p. 3. (®) OJ L 181, 1.7.1992, p. 12. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1624/98 (O] L 210, 28.7.1998, p. 3). (4) Whereas set-aside under the support system for producers of certain arable crops, introduced in 1992 in addition to a lowering of the intervention price, has helped to keep production under  control,  while  increased  price competitiveness  has  allowed  significant additional cereals quantities to be used on the domestic market, mainly for animal feed; (5) Whereas the support on the basis of the scheme introduced in 1992 should be continued, taking into account, however, market developments and experience acquired in applying the current scheme; (6) Whereas Member States may, under -certain conditions, make grass silage eligible for area payments under this regime; (7) Whereas the reform of the support scheme has to take into account the international obligations of the Community; (8) Whereas the best way to achieve market balance is to approximate the Community prices of cereals to the prices on the world market and to provide for non-crop specific area payments; (9) Whereas area payments should be revised if the market conditions differ from those currently foreseen; Whereas the area eligible should be restricted to the area down to arable crops or publicly funded set aside in the past; (10) (11) Whereas, when the sum of the areas for which payment is claimed under the scheme is in excess