30.3.2004 Official Journal of the European Union L 931 COUNCIL DECISION of 22 March 2004 adapting the Act concerning the conditions of accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic and the adjustments to the Treaties on which the European Union is founded, following the reform of the common agricultural policy (2004/281/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty of Accession concerning the acces- sion of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia to the European Union (Y, signed in Athens on 16 April 2003, and in particu- lar Article 2(3) thereof, Having regard to the Act concerning the conditions of acces- sion of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic and the adjustments to the Treaties on which the European Union is founded, () hereinafter as the ‘Act of Acces- sion’, and in particular Article 23 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament (), Whereas: The common agriculture policy (CAP) reform and notably Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 of 29 September 2003 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers (%) introduces significant changes to the acquis on which the accession negotiations were based. 1 There is therefore a need to adapt the Act of Accession of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia (those states hereinafter referred to as the ‘new Member States) so that the negotiation results are compatible with the new acquis, especially where references in the Act of Accession are rendered obsolete or where the negotia- tion results are not compatible with the new agricultural regulations. In making the necessary adaptations to the Act of Acces- sion the fundamental character and principles of the negotiation results should be maintained and applied to any new elements. Moreover, the adaptations of the Act of Accession should be limited to what is absolutely necessary. () OJ L 236, 23.9.2003, p. 17. () OJ L 236, 23.9.2003, p. 33. (*) Opinion delivered on 11 March 2004 (not yet published in the Offi- cial Journal). () OJ L 270, 21.10.2003, p. 1. ) (6) Council Regulation (EC) No 1787/2003 of 29 September 2003 amending Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products (°) and Regulation (EC) No 1788/2003 of 29 September 2003 establishing a levy in the milk and milk-products sector (¢) introduce significant changes in the acquis in the milk sector. There is therefore a need to make technical adaptations to the Act of Accession in this area so that the negotiation results refer to, and fit with, the new acquis. The new measures ‘Compliance with Community stan- dards’ created for the new Member States during acces- sion negotiations and ‘meeting standards’ introduced by Council Regulation (EC) No 1783/2003 of 29 September 2003  amending  Regulation  (EC) No 1257/1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) () should be amalgamated in such a way as to avoid an overlap between them whilst maintaining the possibilities available to the new Member States under the compliance measure. LEADER (Community initiative for rural development) type activities should be supported for the new Member States through a measure integrated into the Structural Funds programmes rather than a separate programme. Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 repeals Council Regu- lation (EC) No 12591999 of 17 May 1999 estab- lishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy (). It is therefore neces- sary to incorporate the provisions related to the intro- duction of direct payments in the new Member States and to the single area payment scheme in Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003. In order to maintain the negotiation results there is a particular need to make the necessary adaptations to ensure that the statutory management requirements of the cross compliance provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 are optional for the new Member States that apply the single area payment scheme. L 270, 21.10.2003, p. 121. L 270, 21.10.2003, p. 123. L 270, 21.10.2003, p. 70. L 160, 26.6.1999, p. 113.