17.12.2003 Official Journal of the European Union L 328/21 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2199/2003 of 16 December 2003 laying down transitional measures for the application in respect of the year 2004 of Council Regu- lation (EC) No 1259/1999 as regards the single area payment scheme for the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, (4)  In order to ensure the correct implementation of the Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to the Treaty of Accession of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia, and in particular Article 2(3) thereof, Having regard to the Act of Accession of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 41 thereof, Whereas: (1) Article 1b of Council Regulation (EC) No 1259/1999 of 17 May 1999 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy (!), as last amended by the Act of Accession of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia (herein- after referred to as ‘the new Member States’), allows the new Member States to replace the payments under the support schemes referred to in Article 1 of that Regu- lation with a single payment hereinafter referred to as ‘single area payment’. (2)  That provision shall enter into force upon accession. In order to facilitate the preparations for the transition from the existing regime in the new Member States to that resulting from the application of that provision, it is appropriate to provide for transitional measures for the first year of application and to allow for the possibility of providing for advance payments in case of exceptional circumstances. (3) It is appropriate to establish specific provisions for the conversion into the national currencies of the new Member States of the amount to be granted in respect of the year 2004 under the single area payment scheme. The operative events for the exchange rates applicable shall be fixed on the basis of the criteria mentioned in Article 3 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2799/98 of 15 December 1998 establishing agrimonetary arrangements for the euro (3. () OJ L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 113. () OJ L 349, 24.12.1998, p. 1. single area payment scheme, Commission Regulation (EC) No 2419/2001 of 11 December 2001 laying down detailed rules for applying the integrated administration and control system for certain Community aid schemes established by Council Regulation (EEC) No 3508/92 (%) should apply, except as otherwise provided in this Regu- lation. (5)  In order to ensure that agricultural land is maintained in good agricultural condition compatible with the protec- tion of the environment referred to in Article 1b(6) of Regulation (EC) No 1259/1999, it is appropriate to establish a common framework within which each new Member State may adopt standards taking account of the specific characteristics of the areas concerned, including soil and climatic conditions, existing farming systems (land use, crop rotation, farming practices) and farm structures. (6)  The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the relevant Manage- ment Committees, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 Subject This Regulation lays down transitional rules for the implemen- tation in respect of the year 2004 of the single area payment scheme for the new Member States provided for in Article 1b of Regulation (EC) No 1259/1999. Article 2 Exchange rate The operative event for the conversion of the amount to be granted under the single area payment scheme into the national currencies of the new Member States shall be 1 July 2004. () OJ L 327, 12.12.2001, p. 11. Regulation as last amended by Regu- lation (EC) No 493/2003 (O] L 73, 19.3.2003, p. 5).