72/428/EEC: Council Decision of 19 December 1972 on assistance from the European Social Fund for persons leaving agriculture to pursue non-agricultural activities

COUNCIL DECISION  of 19 December 1972  on assistance from the European Social Fund for persons leaving agriculture to pursue non-agricultural activities  (72/428/EEC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community;
Having regard to the Council Decision of 1 February 1971 1 on the reform of the European Social Fund, and in particular Article 4 thereof;
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission;
Whereas the means of action and operation of the Fund are defined by Council Regulation (EEC) No 2396/71 2 of 8 November 1971, implementing the Council Decision of 1 February 1971, on the reform of the European Social Fund;
Whereas it is expressly stated in the fourth indent of Article 12 (2) of the Council Directive of 17 April 1972 3 on social and economic information and the occupational skills of persons working in agriculture, that the system of aid set up for persons working in agriculture, who wish to change to a non-agricultural activity - Article 7 of the Directive - shall not apply until the decision to be taken by the Council pursuant to Article 4 of the Council Decision of 1 February 1971 on the reform of the European Social Fund is implemented;
Whereas the imbalance of employment recorded in the agricultural sector is such as to necessitate a considerable number of workers changing employment and thus having to aquire new qualifications and sometimes moving their homes;
Whereas measures for structural aid for agricultural workers cannot be fully effective unless the European Social Fund offers people leaving agriculture the chance to acquire new occupational skills;
Whereas the reform of the European Social Fund decided on by the Council enables a contribution to be made to the financial burden resulting from plans under development or to be developed in the Member States, with the aim of stimulating the re-employment and geographical and professional mobility of persons who cease to pursue an activity directly and principally in agriculture;
Whereas self-employed activities, in certain cases, are the most suited to the mentality and abilities of persons who have worked in agriculture;
Whereas operations to facilitate the employment and geographical and professional mobility of persons leaving agriculture must, save in exceptional cases, be accompanied by the implementation of a programme which makes clear the economic background to projects being organised and specifies the aims and means thereof;