In the Council Regulation establishing the SFA there is provision for application of a maximum reduction coefficient of 15% to the level of assistance made available from 2004, and for this reduction coefficient to be reduced proportionally to the increase in competitiveness observed.

(14) Whereas Article 7(2) of Regulation (EC) No 856/1999 provides that from the year 2004 and for each subsequent year thereafter, a maximum reduction coefficient of 15 % shall be applied to the level of assistance made available to individual traditional ACP suppliers; whereas it further provides that, where programmes aimed at increasing competitiveness are implemented, this reduction coefficient shall be reduced to the same extent that an increase in competitiveness has been observed compared to the previous year;

When programmes are implemented, this reduction coefficient will be reduced to an extent equivalent to the increase in competitiveness observed.

From 2004, a maximum reduction coefficient of 15 % will be applied each year to the level of assistance made available to each country.

From 2004, a maximum reduction coefficient of 15 % will be applied each year to the level of assistance made available to each country.

Whereas the prices fixed in ecus are to be divided by the coefficient reducing agricultural prices referred to in Article 5 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3578/88 of 17 November 1988 laying down detailed rules for the application of the system for the automatic dismantlement of negative monetary compensatory amounts (3), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 747/90 (4); whereas that coefficient should be fixed; whereas a similar adjustment is necessary for certain amounts fixed in ecus pursuant to Article 6 (4) (b) of Regulation (EEC) No 1677/85; whereas, however, to avoid distortion of the market, account should be taken of the p ...[+++]rovisions of Community regulations regarding the calculation of the prices and the amounts in question;