No L 304/44 Official Journal of the European Communities 27..10. 87 COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 19 October 1987 amending Directive 81/527/EEC on the development of agriculture in the French overseas departments (87/522/EEC) 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 ('), as last amended by Regulation (EEC) No 1760/87 (3, and in particular Article 18 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (%), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parli- ament (*), ' Whereas Article 6 (1) of Directive 81/527/EEC (), as amended by Regulation (EEC) No 797/85, provides that the common measure is to last five years from the date on which the programme concerned is approved ; whereas that period expired on 28 January 1987; Whereas the implementation of measures introduced by Directive 81/527/EEC has effectively contributed to the development of agriculture in the overseas departments ; whereas, however, the low level of economic development and the underdevelopment of the agricultural sector of the said departments as compared with the other Community regions calls for the possibility of continuing the work laid down in the programme for applying the measures, in order to consolidate progress achieved ; Whereas it is necessary in particular to step up the tech- nical assistance effort called for by the innovative character of the diversification of production in order, additionally, to ensure a link between experimental stations and agricultural holdings ; Whereas the financial breakdown should be made more flexible in line with the special requirements of applica- tion, () OJ No L 93, 30. 3. 1985, p. 1. (®» OJ No L 167, 26. 6. 1987, p. 1. () OJ No C 175, 3. 7. 1987, p. S. (9 Opinion delivered on 16 October 1987 (not yet published in the Official Journal). () OJ No L 197, 20. 7. 1981, p. 38. HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: Article 1 Directive 81/527/EEC is hereby amended as follows : 1. Article 5 (1) shall be replaced by the following : ‘1. Expenditure incurred by the French Republic, under the programme, on the measures referred to in Article 3 shall be eligible under the Guidance Section of the Fund up to the following limits : — under Article 3 (a), up to 50 million ECU; — under Article 3 (b), up to 122 million ECU; — under Article 3 (c), up to 57 million ECU; — under Article 3 (d), up to 18 million ECU; — under Article 3 (¢), up to 40,5 million ECU, of which a maximum of 5,35 million ECU may be used for technical assistance and the application of agronomical research findings. When the programme or any amendments thereto are approved, as referred to in Article 2 (2), the Commis- sion may adjust those limits, without, however, excee- ding the estimated cost provided for in Article 6 (3) or the figure of 5,35 million ECU for technical assistance and the application of research findings.’ 2. Article 6 (1) and (3) shall be replaced by the following : ‘1. The duration of the common measure shall be not more than seven years from the date on which the programme is approved.’ ‘3. The total estimated cost of the common measure to be borne by the Fund shall be 115 million ECU. Article 2 This Directive is addressed to the French Republic. Done at Luxembourg, 19 October 1987. For the Council The President L TORNAZES