No C 358/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 31. 12. 85 
initiative or at the request of the representative of a Member 
State. 
2. The chairman shall submit to the Committee a draft of 
the measures to be adopted. The Standing Committee on 
Agricultural Structures shall deliver its opinion on the draft 
within a time limit which the chairman may lay down 
according to the urgency of the matter. The opinion shall be 
delivered by a majority of 45 votes, the votes of the Member 
States being weighted as provided for in Article 148 (2) of the 
Treaty. The chairman shall not vote. 
3. The Commission shall adopt measures which shall 
apply immediately. However, if these measures are not in 
accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on 
Agricultural Structures, they shall forthwith be 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, 
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 797/85 of 
12 March 1985 on improving the efficiency of agricultural 
structures (*), and in particular Article 18 thereof, 
H OJNoL93, 30. 3. 1985, p. 1. communicated by the Commission to the Council. In that 
event the Commission may defer application of the measures 
which it has adopted for not more than one month from the 
date of such communication. 
The Council, acting by a qualified majority, may take a 
different decision within one month. 
Article 11 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day 
following its publication in the Official Journal of the 
European Communities. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly 
applicable in all Member States. 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social 
Committee, 
Whereas Article 39 (2) (a) of the Treaty provides that, in 
working out the common agricultural policy, account is to be ANNEX 
(million ECU) 
Measures to be financed 
1. Improvement of rural infrastructure 
2. Forestry improvement 
3. Consolidation and connected work 
4. Measures to combat erosion 
5. Drainage and other land-improvement 
measures 
6. Improvement or establishment of collective 
infrastructures to encourage farm tourism 
Total Total maximum 
eligible cost 
70(i) 
40(M 
9 
(600 ECU/ha x 15 000 ha) 
40(2) 
27 
(900 ECU/ha x 30 000 ha) 
10 
196 Total cost 
to EAGGF 
28 
16 
3,6 
16 
10,8 
4 
78,4 
(') The estimate is based on experience in connection with Regulations (EEC) No 1760/78 and (EEC) No 269/79 and indicators 
making it possible to gauge the scope of the new scheme compared with the old and establish its cost. 
(2) The calculation is based on an area of 30 000 hectares and an average cost of 1 350 ECU per hectare. 
Proposal for a Council Regulation (EEC) establishing a common action for the promotion of 
agriculture in the Scottish islands off the northern and western coasts with the exception of the 
Western Isles 
COM(8S) 759 final 
(85/C 358/03) 
31. 12. 85 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 358/9 
taken of the social structure of agriculture and of the 
structural and natural disparities between the various 
agricultural regions; 
Whereas, in order to achieve the objectives of the common 
agricultural policy set out in Article 39 (1) (a) and (b) of the 
Treaty, special measures appropriate to production 
conditions in the less-favoured agricultural areas should be 
adopted at Community level; 
Whereas Article 18 of Regulation (EEC) No 797/85 
provides a framework for specific regional measures to 
stimulate agriculture as a whole, in harmony with any 
development schemes simultaneously undertaken in 
non-agricultural sectors and having regard to the needs of 
environmental protection; whereas the Council, in 
accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 43 of the 
Treaty, shall decide on these measures; 
Whereas the islands off the northern and western Scottish 
coasts are classified as less-favoured areas within the 
meaning of Article 3 of Council Directive 75/268/EEC (!); 
whereas the Western Isles (Outer Hebrides) already benefit 
from an integrated development programme under Council 
Regulation (EEC) No 1939/81 (2); 
Whereas the Scottish Islands excluding the Western Isles 
(Outer Hebrides) have particular problems in the promotion 
of agriculture due to poor soils, isolation from the mainland 
leading to extra transport costs, poor farm structures, 
crofting systems in some islands and low returns on farming 
enterprises; 
Whereas in these island areas the improvement of the 
structure of agricultural production is essential to improve 
farm incomes; 
Whereas the promotion of agriculture needs to be 
accompanied by the improvement of agricultural 
infrastructure and by investments in landing-stages and other 
shore facilities; 
Whereas in these islands shelter belts are needed in order to 
protect farmsteads and farm land from the effect of the strong 
winds; 
Whereas the standard of farm dwelling-houses needs to be 
improved in order to encourage the population to continue to 
live in these islands; 
Whereas in order to encourage farmers and crofters to 
develop other sources of income on their holdings, 
investments for tourism and small industry projects to be 
carried out on the farm should be encouraged; 
Whereas the Council recognizes the special interest of some 
parts of these islands for the environment; whereas it is 
necessary to make provision for payments to farmers entering management agreements to protect sites of 
particular importance or to maintain traditional farming 
methods; 
Whereas, because of the poor farm structure and the high 
rate of pluriactivity in the islands, Title I of Regulation (EEC) 
No 797/85 is not entirely appropriate; 
Whereas the achievement of these aims should be promoted 
by means of a measure combining these various elements and 
applied in the context of the programmes; 
Whereas it follows from the foregoing that the measures 
referred to above constitute a common measure within the 
meaning of Article 6 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 
729/70 of 21 April 1970 on the financing of the common 
agricultural policy (3), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) 
No 870/85 (4); 
Whereas it is the responsibility of the Commission, having 
consulted the Standing Committee on Agricultural 
Structures, to decide on the approval of a programme 
submitted by the United Kingdom Government, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
TITLE I 
Measures to promote agriculture in the Scottish islands off 
the northern and western coasts with the exception of the 
Western Isles 
Article 1 
1. In order to promote agriculture in the Scottish islands 
off the northern and western coasts with the exception of the 
Western Isles of Scotland (Outer Hebrides), a specific 
measure within the meaning of Article 18 (1) of Regulation 
(EEC) No 797/85 is hereby established. 
2. The measure shall involve the financial participation, 
subject to the rules and conditions laid down in Title II, of the 
European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund, 
Guidance Section, hereinafter called 'the Fund', in the 
agricultural measures referred to in paragraph 3 which forms 
part of one or more programmes established by the 
Government of the United Kingdom or by the authorities 
designated at the relevant geographical level and approved by 
the Commission. 
3. The measures implemented in the regions concerned 
shall comprise: 
— the improvement of the structure of agricultural 
production, excluding premiums granted on a 
unit-of-production basis, 
— the planting of windbreaks for the protection of 
agriculture, 
(>) OJNoL 128, 19. 5. 1975, p. 1. 
(2) OJ No L 197, 20. 7. 1981, p. 6. (3) OJ No L 94, 28. 4. 1970, p. 13. 
(4) OJ No L 95, 2. 4. 1985, p. 1. 
No C 358/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 31. 12. 85 
— the improvement of the agricultural infrastructure, 
— investments in landing-stages and other shore facilities 
for the use of agricultural communities involved in 
pluriactivity, 
— investments in the improvement of farm dwelling-
houses, 
— investment for tourism and small industry projects to be 
carried out on the farm, 
— payments to farmers entering management agreements in 
favour of the protection of sites of particular importance 
for the environment; these payments shall not exceed the 
real net losses or profits foregone due to the management 
restrictions agreed, 
— a project team to animate participation in the 
programme. 
Article 2 
All programmes referred to in Article 1 (2) shall include at 
least the following particulars: 
1. a description of the present situation, a description of the 
objectives to be attained and an estimate of costs and 
methods of financing; 
2. a timetable for carrying out the different measures and an 
indication of the additionality due to the introduction of 
the common measures ensuring the participation of the 
Fund; 
3. an indication that the actions envisaged are compatible 
with the protection of the environment; 
4. coordination measures with all other programmes and 
provisions that could influence the development of 
agriculture in the areas concerned; 
5. evidence that all measures foreseen in this common 
measure are established in a balanced way according to 
the structural needs of the areas concerned. 
Article 3 
1. All programmes and any amendments to programmes 
shall be forwarded to the Commission by the Government of 
the United Kingdom. The duration of the programmes shall 
be at least that of the common measure. 
2. At the request of the Commission, the United Kingdom 
Government shall provide any further information required 
in addition to the particulars supplied pursuant to Article 2 
and especially as regards paragraph 5 thereof. 
3. The Commission shall deliver its opinion on 
programmes and any amendments thereto in accordance 
with the procedure laid down in Article 8, having consulted 
the Fund Committee on the financial aspects. TITLE II 
Financial and general provisions 
Article 4 
1. The duration of the common measure shall be limited 
to five years as from the date of approval of the first 
programme as referred to in Article 3. 
2. During the fourth year, the Commission shall submit a 
progress report on the common measure. Before the end of 
the five-year period, the Council shall decide, on a proposal 
from the Commission, whether the measure should be 
extended. 
3. The estimated cost of the common measure to the Fund 
is 25 million ECU for the period specified in paragraph 1. 
4. Article 6 (5) of Regulation (EEC) No 729/70 shall 
apply. 
Articles 
1. Expenditure by the United Kingdom on the measures 
referred to in Article 2 (2) up to a maximum amount of 62,5 
million ECU for the period referred to in Article 4(1), shall 
be eligible for aid from the Fund. 
2. The Fund shall reimburse to the United Kingdom 40 % 
of eligible expenditure. Reimbursement on the elements for 
dwelling-houses and environmental measures shall not 
exceed 20% of the total reimbursed. Similarly, 
reimbursement for the project team shall not exceed 2 % of 
the total reimbursed. 
3. Expenditure as referred to in paragraph 1 which 
benefits from Community aid under other common measures 
within the meaning of Article 6 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No 
729/70 or from aid under the European Regional 
Development Fund or under the European Social Fund shall 
not fall within the scope of this Regulation. 
Article 6 
When the programme is under examination the Commission 
shall, in agreement with the United Kingdom, fix the manner 
in which it is to be informed periodically of the progress of the 
programme. The United Kingdom shall at the same time 
designate the bodies responsible for the technical execution 
of the programme. 
Article 7 
1. Application for reimbursement shall relate to 
expenditure incurred by the United Kingdom in the course of 
one calendar year and shall be submitted to the Commission 
before 1 July of the following year, together with the periodic 
information referred to in Article 6. 
31. 12. 85 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 358/11 
2. The decision whether to grant aid from the Fund shall 
be taken in accordance with Article 7 (1) of Regulation (EEC) 
No 729/70. 
3. Advance payments may be granted by the Fund on the 
basis of the financial arrangements adopted by the United 
Kingdom and in the light of progress made in implementing 
the projects. 
4. Detailed rules for the application of this Article shall be 
adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in 
Article 13 of Regulation (EEC) No 729/70. 
Article 8 
1. In cases where recourse is had to the procedure laid 
down in this Article, the matter shall be referred to the 
Standing Committee on Agricultural Structures by its 
chairman either on his own initiative or at the request of the 
representative of a Member State. 
2. The chairman shall submit a draft of the measures to be 
taken. The Standing Committee on Agricultural Structures 
shall deliver its opinion on these measures within a time limit 
set by the chairman according to the urgency of the matter. It 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, shall act by a majority of 45 votes, the votes of the Member 
States being weighted as laid down in Article 148 (2) of the 
Treaty. The chairman shall not vote. 
3. The Commission shall adopt the measures, which shall 
be immediately applicable. However, if such measures are 
not in accordance with the opinion delivered by the Standing 
Committee on Agricultural Structures, they shall be 
communicated forthwith by the Commission to the Council. 
In that case, the Commission may defer application of the 
measures which it has adopted by not more than one month 
from the date of such communication. The Council, acting 
by a qualified majority, may adopt a different decision within 
one month. 
Article 9 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day 
following its publication in the Official Journal of the 
European Communities. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly 
applicable in all Member States. 
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 1787/84 of 
19 June 1984 on the European Regional Development 
Fund (*), and in particular Article 7 (4) thereof, 
(») OJNoL 169, 28. 6. 1984, p. 1. ANNEX 
(million ECU) 
Measures to be financed 
1. Improvement of structures for production 
and of rural infrastructure, including the costs 
of activating the programme (]) 
2. Investments to improve agricultural housing 
and investments relating to tourism and 
small-scale industries on agricultural hold­
ings 
3. Payments to farmers who subscribe to certain 
agreements relating to environmental 
protection 
Total Total maximum 
eligible cost 
52,5 
8,0 
2,0 
62,5 Total cost 
to EAGGF 
21,0 
3,2 
0,8 
25,0 
(') Measures for the Western Isles provided for in Regulation (EEC) No 1929/81. 
Proposal for a Council Regulation (EEC) instituting a Community programme for the development of 
certain less-favoured regions of the Community by exploiting indigenous energy potential (Valoren 
programme) 
COM(8S).838 final 
(85/C 358/04)