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Whereas Article 39 (2) (a) of the Treaty provides that the social structure of agriculture and the structural and natural disparities between the various agricultural regions must be taken into account in working out the common agricultural policy; Whereas, to achieve the aims of the common agricultural policy as set out in Article 39 (1) (a) and (b) of the Treaty, special measures appropriate to the situation in the less-favoured agricultural areas should be taken at Community level; Whereas, in certain less-favoured areas of Greece, within the meaning of Council Directive 81/645/EEC of 20 July 1981 concerning the Community list of less-favoured farming areas within the meaning of Directive 75/268/EEC (Greece) (), there are serious problems of underemployment in agriculture; Whereas, in these areas, the percentage of the working population engaged in agriculture is relatively high and agricultural incomes are very low;

Whereas the infrastructure in these rural regions is very inadequate, particularly in public services such as electricity, drinking water, farm roads and local roads; whereas the provision of new or better services is an important prerequisite for the improvement of agricultural structures; Whereas agricultural production in these regions is seriously hampered by a particularly poor surface and ground water balance; whereas the available water can be used to establish small irrigation networks; Whereas, in the mountain and hill areas, the improvement of pastures and protection against erosion are essential prerequisites for the improvement of agriculture in these regions;

Whereas relatively few farmers in these regions are capable of implementing a development plan with a view to attaining the comparable income level referred to in Article 4 (1) of Council Directive 72/159/EEC of 17 April 1972 on the modernization of farms (), as last amended by Directive 82/436/EEC (); whereas the development of beef cattle, sheep and goat farming, together with the improvement of pastures and irrigation, could help to bring about an effective and permanent improvement in the economic position of farms; Whereas the level of training among the farming population is particularly low; whereas the measures to improve the conditions for agricultural production cannot achieve their full effect unless farmers acquire greater occupational skill; whereas, therefore, it is necessary to improve the infrastructure for agriculture training by establishing training centres or by enlarging and renovating existing centres;

Whereas, since some farmland is affected by erosion, soil and water conservation is a particularly important requirement; whereas afforestation and the improvement of deteriorated forests, including measures to protect and maintain forests, constitute appropriate means of protecting farmland in these regions; Whereas these objectives should be furthered by action combining these various elements within the framework of a programme; Whereas it follows from the foregoing that the above-mentioned measures 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 (), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 3509/80 (); Whereas it is for the Commission, after receiving the opinion of the Standing Committee on Agricultural Structure, to decide whether to approve the programme submitted by the Greek Government, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: