Council Regulation (EEC) No 218/84 of 18 January 1984 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2618/80 instituting a specific Community regional development measure contributing to improving security of energy supply in certain Community regions by way of improved use of new techniques for hydro-electrical power and alternative energy sources

COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 218/84 of 18 January 1984 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2618/80 instituting a specific Community regional development measure contributing to improving security of energy supply in certain Community regions by way of improved use of new techniques for hydro-electrical power and alternative energy sources
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 724/75 of 18 March 1975 establishing a European Regional Development Fund (1), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3325/80 (2), and in particular Article 13 (3) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (3),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (4),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (5),
Whereas Article 13 of Regulation (EEC) No 724/75 (hereinafter referred to as "the Fund Regulation") provides, independently of the national allocations of resources fixed by Article 2 (3) (a) of that Regulation, for participation by the Fund in financing specific Community regional development measures which are in particular linked with Community policies and with measures adopted by the Community in order to take better account of their regional dimension or to reduce their regional consequences;
Whereas, pursuant to that Article, the Council adopted on 7 October 1980 an initial series of Regulations instituting specific Community regional development measures and in particular Regulation (EEC) No 2618/80 (6) instituting a specific Community regional development measure contributing to improving security of energy supply in certain Community regions by way of improved use of new techniques for hydro-electrical power and alternative energy sources, this measure being hereinafter referred to as "the specific measure";
Whereas, pursuant to that Regulation and in particular Article 3 thereof, the Commission has approved a special programme relating to certain areas in the Mezzogiorno and has at the same time decided to allocate appropriations to that programme;
Whereas Greece has become a Member of the Community since the adoption of the specific measure ; whereas the situation in that country is also characterized by a substantial energy shortfall and heavy dependence on oil imports ; whereas, moreover, the cost of energy is particularly high in the Greek islands;
Whereas the development of those islands entails increased consumption of energy, which also stems from the operation of the water supply systems serving agriculture, industry and tourism ; whereas there is therefore a need to encourage the installation there of new generating capacity exploiting local alternative energy sources;
Whereas steps should be taken to promote the exploitation of geothermal energy, which is an important alternative source of energy in these areas ; whereas similar steps should also be taken in the areas of the Mezzogiorno affected by the specific measure;
Whereas the Member States concerned have provided the Commission with information on regional problems which would be a suitable subject for a specific Community measure;
Whereas, in order to accelerate the implementation of the special programme, the rules laid down by Regulation (EEC) No 2618/80 concerning budgetary commitments, payment of aid from the Fund and advances made from the Fund should be amended;  (1) OJ No L 73, 21.3.1975, p. 1. (2) OJ No L 349, 23.12.1980, p. 10. (3) OJ No C 15, 19.1.1983, p. 10. (4) OJ No C 184, 10.6.1983, p. 163. (5) OJ No C 124, 9.5.1983, p. 2. (6) OJ No L 271, 15.10.1980, p. 23.  Whereas, in order that Greece may benefit fully from the specific measure, it is appropriate to provide that the expenditure connected with the measures envisaged and carried out by that country pending the adoption of this Regulation, during the year preceding its adoption, be, by way of an exception, deemed eligible;
Whereas additional financial resources are required to implement the specific measure thus reinforced and extended to new areas;
Whereas it is necessary that the Member State for which a special programme has already been approved should adapt that programme and that Greece should submit to the Commission a special programme in accordance with Regulation (EEC) No 2618/80,