CELEX: 51975PC0693
Language: en
Date: 1975-12-23
Title: PROPOSAL FOR A DIRECTIVE concerning the Community list of less-favoured farming areas within the meaning of Directive 75/268/EEC (France - Overseas Departments) (submitted to the Council by the Commission)

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 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                               COM(75)693    final .
                                               Brussels , 23 December 1975
                       PROPOSAL FOR A DIRECTIVE
   concerning the Community list of less-favoured farming areas
  within the meaning of Directive 75/268/EEC                  ^
                  ( France - Overseas Departments )
                             ..  ^     .    ..   _
             ( submitted to the Council by the Commission )
  COK(75 ) 693 final .
                                                             \
 ---pagebreak---                       EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
 In accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 2 , paragraph 1 ,
of Directive 75/268/EEC on mountain and hill farming and farming in
certain lees-favoured areas , the Government of the French Republic
has communicated to the Commission the boundaries of areas , situated
in the Overseas Departments , eligible for inclusion in the Community
list of less-favoured farming areas , within the meaning of Article 3 ,
paragraphs k and 5 of the said Directive . At the same time , the
Government has communicated the relevant information concerning the
characteristics of these areas and the aid measures to be applied ,
as well as complementary information , requested by the Commission ,
on the characteristics of areas , situated in the Overseas Depart­
ments , which the French Government proposed in a former commu­
nication within the meaning of Article 3 » paragraph 3 » of Directive
75/268/EEC .                                         -
Concerning the characteristics of the areas in question , it should
be noted that the level of indices characterising them come within
the limits selected by the Commission at the time of the proposal
for a Directive of 18 December 197 ^ relative to the Community list
of less-favoured farming areas ( 1 ).
In particular , the areas , proposed within the meaning of Article 3 »
paragraph 3 » are characterised in each constituent commune or part
of a commune , either by a slope of greater than 20 # , or by an average
altitude of 800 metres , or by a combination of these two factors where­
by the resulting handicap can be considered as equivalent to that
deriving from each of the factors taken separately .
The less-favoured areas in danger of depopulation proposed withir
the meaning of Article J , paragraph k , are chrracterised simultaneously
by a productivity per hectare and a gross farm income per family
worker not greater than 77 % and 27        respectively , of the national
( 1 ) COM ( 7*0 22 22 final 18.12.7^
 ---pagebreak---                            - 2 -
average ; whereas the population density is approximately 1 person
per square kilometre and the minimum percentage of the active
population engaged in agriculture is 30
The areas proposed within the meaning of Article 3 » paragraph 5 »
of the Directive., are characterised by unfavourable ftatural
conditions of production and , at the same time , handicaps resulting
from insularity and distance from the mother-country which , conse-,
quently , give high transport costs and , therefore , excessive costs
of production materials .
The present proposal for a Directive is not accompanied by a financial
annex relating to the calculation of expenses , eligible to E.A.G.G.F.
arising from the application , in the areas in question , of Directive
75/268/EEC on mountain and hill farming and farming in certain less- ,
favoured areas . This is due to the fact that , in conformance with Article
227 » paragraph 2 , 1st indent , the dispositions concerning the E.A.G.G.F.
are applicable to the French Overseas Departments only by virtue of ;
a Council decision to be taken with respect to the 2nd indent of this
same Article 227 » paragraph 2 . The Commission recalls in this regard
that it submitted to the Council , on 31 October 1975 » a proposal
aimed at extending the application of the E.A.G.G.F. - Orientation
Section , to the French Overseas Departments .
This proposal contains a financial statement in which the financial
 implications of the extension of the Orientation Section to the French
Overseas Departments are indicated .                                        !
 ---pagebreak---                      PROPOSAL FOR A DIRECTIVE CONCERNING
                                                                           »
                     the Community list of less-favoured
                     farming areas within the meaning of
                       Directive 75/268/EEC
                        ( france - Overseas Departments )
 THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
 Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic
Community ,
Having regard to Council Directive 75/268/EEC of 28 April 1975
on mountain and hill farming and farming in certain less-favoured .
areas ( 1 ) and especially Article 2 , paragraph 2 , thereof ,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission , ( 2 )
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament , ( 3 )
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee , ( k )
whereas the Government of the Republic of France has communicated
to the Commission , in accordance with Article 2 , paragraph 1 of
Directive 75/268/EEC , ten areas situated in the Overseas Departments
of         Martinique , Guadeloupe , Reunion and Guiana , and suitable for
inclusion in the Community list of les6-favoured agricultural areas ,
                                           i
as well as information relative to the characteristics of the areas ;
whereas this Government has selected as an index of very difficult
climatic conditions , according to Article 3 » paragraph 3 » first
indent of Directive 75/268/EEC , an average altitude in each commune
of at least 800 metres {
whereas steep slopes , according to Article 3 » paragraph 3 » 6econd
indent of Directive 75/268/EEC are defined a6 being greater than 20 #,
( 1 ) O.J. no. L 128 - 19 May 1975
( 2 ) O.J. no. .... , .
C 3 ) O.^J . no .......
(*0 O.J. no                                               .../...
 ---pagebreak--- whereas where there is a combination of the two above mentioned
factors , a minimum altitude of 500 metres and at the same time ,
a slope greater than 15 % or 'tOO metres and 16 % t respectively ,
have been selected    «
   C                               *    I
whereas the following indices . relevant to the presence of land of
limited potential , according to Article 3 , paragraph k a ) of
Directive 75/268/EEC have been utilized : value . of final agricul­
tural production per hectare not greater than , 77% of the average
of Metropolitan France ( l^^O FF and 2,400 FF respectively ), or
livestock density of 0,17 livestock units ( L.U. ) per forage hectare
whereas economic results of farming , appreciably lower than average ,
according to Article 3 , paragraph k b ) of Directive 75/268/EEC are
defined by an index     relating to gross farm income per family worker
of approximately 27 % of the national average of Metropolitan France
( 7,700 and 28,AOO FF respectively ) ;
whereas concerning a low or dwindling population , according to
Article 5 , paragraph k c ) of Directive 75/268/EEC , the following-',
index   has .been utilised : density not greater than 1 inhabitant
per square kilometre , whereas the percentage of total active popul­
ation engaged in agriculture is 30 % ;
                             /
whereas concerning the delimitation of areas affected by specific
                    '            •
handicaps , which can be considered as less-favoured within the
meaning of Article 3 » paragraph 5 » of Directive 75/268/EEC , the
French Governmtrt has utilised , on the one hand , the existence
of unfavourable natural conditions of production : serious and
frequent extremes of climate such as cyclones , prolonged periods
of drought and very irregular rainfall , and often very rugged land
surfaces and , on the other hand , handicaps resulting from insularity
and remoteness from the mother-country which results in excessive
costs of products , especially production materialsjmoreover the
combined extent of thcr.e areas not exceeding 2.5# of the area of
 ---pagebreak---  the Member State concerned ( 0,46% of the area of Metropolitan France
 plus the Overseas Department s)i
whereas the type and level of the above mentioned indices , utilised
 by the French Government , in order to define the three classes of
 area in the Overseas Departments , communicated to the Commission
 correspond , respectively , to the characteristics of the mountain
areas , the less-favoured areas and the areas affected by specific
handicaps , according to Article 3 » paragraph       and 5 of Directive
75/268/EEC ;
whereas the communication of the Member state concerned does not
describe the present infrastructure of these areas , according to *
Article 3 « paragraph 2 of the 6aid Directive , and it appears that
the infrastructure is inadequate , and besides the absence of inform­
 ation , relevant to the current or projected programmes , does not
permit estimation of the time necessary for a definite improvement
in the position ; it appears , nevertheless , expedient to include the
areas in question in the Community list of less-favoured farming
areas , on the understanding that the French Government will present
shortly to the Commission a detailed communication on this subject ;
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE :
 ---pagebreak---                               - k -
                       Article 1
The areas situated in the Overseas Departments of Guadeloupe , Reunion ,
Martinique and Guiana which / appear in the Annex to the present Direc­
tive are part of the Community list of less-favoured farming areas ,
within the meaning of Article 3 » paragraphs J , 4 and 5 of Council
Directive 75/268/EEC .
                       Article 2
The government of the Republic of France will forward to the
Commission by the end of 1976 at the latest , a detailed communication
indicating the time period during which measures for the substantial
improvement of infrastructure will be effected in the areas scheduled
in Article 1 .
                       Article 3
The present Directive is addressed to the Republic of France .
  Done at Brussels ,                           For the Council ,
                                               The President ,
 ---pagebreak---                        ANNEXE
   Zones défavorisées au sens' de l' article 3 , paragraphe 3 ,
                de la Directive 75/268/CEE
           . Département de la GUADELOUPE f
 Parties de communes : Deshaies , Pointe-Noire , Bouillante ,
                         Vieux-Habitants , Baillif , Saint-Claude ,
                         Gourbeyre , Vieux-Fort , Trois-Rivières ,
                        Capesterré .
        ,  Département de la MARTINIQUE .
Communes : Fonds-SaintyDenis , Morne-Rouge , Morne-Vert
Parties de communes : Ajoupa-Bouillon , Basse-Pointe , Bellefontaine ,
                        Carbet , Case-Pilote , Fort -de-France , Grand-Rivièia
                        Gros-Morne , Lorrain , Macouba , Marigot , Prêcheur ,
                        Saint-Joseph , Sainte-Marie , Saint-Pierre ,
                        Schoelcher .
        y Département de la REUNION^
Communes : Cilaos , Plaine -des-Palmistes, Salazie .              >
Parties de communes : Avirons , Bras-Panon , Entre-Deux , Etang-Salé ,
                        Petite-Ile , Possession , Saint-André , Saint-
                        Benoit , Saint-Denis , Saint-Leu , Saint-Louis ,
              (
                        Saint-Joseph , Sainte-Marie , Saint-Paul , Saint-
                        Philippe , Saint-Pierre , Sainte-Rose , Sainte-
                        Suzanne , Tampon , Trois-Bassins .
 ---pagebreak---                                 m 2 •
            Zones défavorisées au sens de l' article 3 . paragraphe 4 .
                          de la Directive 75/268/CEE
                      / Département de la GUYANE /
 Zone des communes côtiêres entre la cfite et la limite de l' arcienne
 colonie de la Guyane
 Saint-Laurent , Mana , Iracoubo , Sinnamary , Kourou , Macouria ( Tonate ),
 Montsinery , Cayenne , Matoury , Remire , Roura , Regina , Ouanary , Saint-
 Georges .
 Zone de l' intérieur ; bande de deux kilométrés de largeur le long
 des fleuves frontières Maroni , à l' ouest , et Oyapock . à l' est
 Grand-Santi , Maripasoula ( àl.l 'ouest sur le Maroni ).
 Saint-Georges , Canopi (à l' est sur l' Oyapock ).
           Zones défavorisées au sens de l' article 3 , paragraphe 5 .
                       de la Directive 75/268/CEE
                    / Département de la GUADELOUPE /
Grande-Terre
Communes : Anse-Bertrand , Port-Louis , Moule , St-François , Ste-Anne ,
              Morne -à - 1 'eau , Pointe -à-Pitre, Petit-Canal , Gosier , Abymes .
                                      m
Basse-Terre
Communes : Baie-Mahault , Lamentin , Petit-Bourg , Sainte-Rose , Basse-
              Torrr , Goyave .
Parties de communes : Deshaies , Pointe-Noire , Bouillante , Vieux-
                             Habitants , Baillif , Saint-Claude , Gourbeyre ,
                             Vieux-Fort , Trois-Rivières , Cape6terre .
Dépendances
Les Saintes : Terre -de -Haut , Terre - de -Bas
La Désirade , Marie-Galante , Saint-Barthélemy , Saint-Martin .
                                                       • •/• •
 ---pagebreak---                              - 3 -
                     / Département de la MARTINIQUE /
 Communes :
 Anses»»d ' Arlets , Le Diamant , Ducos , Le François , Le Lamentin , Le
 Marin , Rivière-Pilote , Rivière-Salée , Le Robert , Saint-Esprit ,
Sainte-Anne , Sainte-Luce , Trinité , Les Trois-Ilets , Le Vauclin .
Parties de communes î
A joupa-Bouillon , Basse-Pointe , Bellefontaine , Carbet , Case-Pilote ,
Fort -de-France , Grand-Rivière , Groe-Morne , Lorrain , Macouba , Marigot ,
Prêcheur , Saint-Joseph , Sainte-Marie , Saint-Pierre , Schoelcher .
                     / Département de la REUNION /
Communes :
Le Port
Parties de communes :
                                                                         /
Les Avirons , Saint-Denis , La Possession , Saint-Paul , Trois-Ba6sins ,
Saint-Leu , Etant-Salé , Saint-Louis , Entre-Deux , Saint-Pierre , Le
Tampon , Petite-Ile , Saint-Joseph , Saint-Philippe , Sainte-Rose ,
Saint-Benoit , Bras-Panon , Saint-André , Sainte-Suzanne , Sainte-Marie .