16. Calls on the Commission to redefine a coherent rural and milk development programme for mountain areas, for disadvantaged milk production areas and for Member States where most of the milk is produced by very small farms;

30. Calls on the Commission to closely follow the development of milk production in these areas and to review the economic impact of the expiry of milk quotas on dairy farms in these areas; asks the Commission to submit to the European Parliament and the Council a report addressing this issue by 2017, accompanied by a legislative proposal if milk production has decreased significantly in these regions;

30. Calls on the Commission to closely follow the development of milk production in these areas and to review the economic impact of the expiry of milk quotas on dairy farms in these areas; asks the Commission to submit to the European Parliament and the Council a report addressing this issue by 2017, accompanied by a legislative proposal if milk production has decreased significantly in these regions;

In line with the high dependence of the Azores on milk production, combined with other handicaps connected with their distant location and the absence of profitable alternative lines of production, the derogation from certain provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No 1788/2003 of 29 September 2003 establishing a levy in the milk and milk products sector , introduced by Article 23 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1453/2001 of 28 June 2001 introducing specific measures for certain agricultural products for the Azores and Madeira (Poseima) and renewed by Council Regulation (EC) No 55/2004 should be confirmed with respect to the application of t ...[+++]he supplementary levy in the milk and milk products sector in the Azores.

In case of dairy premium and additional payments, the LU shall be calculated by dividing the reference quantity used for the calculation of the amount of dairy premium and additional payment when included in the single payment scheme by the average milk yield provided for in Annex XVI of Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004 applicable at that time or by the individual milk yield, in case the individual yield was higher than the average.

(19) Milk production and cattle farming are the mainstay of the agricultural economy of the Azores, and support for the sector should take account of the crucial importance of these activities in both social and economic terms, especially for small farmers. To ensure the survival of traditional activity in this sector, the suckler cow premium and the aid for dairy cows should continue to be supplemented, within the limit of the available local quota. A supplement to the slaughter premium should be introduced and aid granted for the disposal of surplus male bovines for which no normal outlets can be found in the islands and which must be shipped to the rest o ...[+++]f the Community at considerable additional cost, given the particular geographical situation of the region. To ensure that Community support can be mobilised effectively, a comprehensive programme to support local activities in the livestock and milk products sectors should enable the sectors concerned to define and implement strategies tailored to the local context for economic development, spatial organisation of production and increasing the professionalism of producers.