7.3.90 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 58/9 COUNCIL DECISION of 26 February 1990 adopting a specific Community research and technological development programme in the field of competitiveness of agriculture and management of agricultural resources (1989-1993) (90/84/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 130 q (2) thereof, ‘ Having regard to the proposal from the Commission " In cooperation with the European Parliament (3), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Secial Committee (%), Whereas Article 130 k of the Treaty stipulates that the framework programme shall -be implemented through specific programmes developed within each of the activi- ties ; Wheteas, by Decision 87/516/Euratom, EEC(), as amended by Decision 88/193/Euratom, EEC(?), the Council adopted a framework programme for Community activities in the field of research-and technological deve- lopment (1987-1991) providing for activities to be imple- mented to ensure the exploitation and optimum use of biological resources ; : Whereas that Decision provides that Community action is justified where it contributes, inter alia, to the strengthe- ning of the economic and social cohesion of the Commu- nity and the promotion of its overall harmonious develop- ment while being consistent with scientific and technical excellence in research ; whereas it is intended that the specific research and technological . development programme in the field of competitiveness of agriculture and management of agricultural resources should contri- bute to the achievement of the objectives of the common agricultural policy ; Whereas the framework programme - provides for a specific research and- technological development programme in the field of competitiveness of agriculture and management of agricultural resources with the purpose of increasing the efficiency of human and finan- cial resources devoted to agriculture and of providing a response to -the economic, social; environmental and region al challenges arising from the way farming activi- (') OJ No C 146, 13. 6. 1989, p. 15. (® OJ No C 158, 26. 6. 1989, p. 90 and Decision of 14 February 1990" (not yet published in the Official Journal). () OJ No C 56, 6. 3. 1989, p. 22. () OJ No L 302, 24. 10. 1987, p. 1. () OJ No L 89, 6. 4. 1988, p. 35. ties are changing in the socio-economic framework of rural areas; Whereas the Community must endeavour to overcome the problems of agricultural surpluses, adjust production in line with. market demand, maintain agricultural incomes at a reasonable level and rationalize and moder- nize agricultural structures and ensure the competitive- ness  of - European Community agriculture-on the world market while at the same time protecting and improving the environment ; Whereas those endeavours must be directed towards the promotion and development of products which are in deficit in the Community, the improvement of the quality of agricultural products to give higher added value; Whereas numerous regions in the Community lag behind others in development and whereas there is therefore a need to define all the available opportunities for reducing the economic and social disparities between the regions with a slower rate of development and the economically more developed regions of the Community, in particular in those areas where the disparities are most acute ; Whereas one of the major problems facing agricuitural research will be containing-the rapidly escalating costs of agricultural inputs, inter alia, by developing new produc- tion, processing and conservation systems aimed at redu- cing. costs ; Whereas the elaboration of long-term schemes in resource-management can-result in new ways of managing land and water to the advantage: of agriculture, the envi- ronment and the countryside ; Whereas. the development of methods and services to disseminate agricultural research results will facilitate adaptation to changes and development in the common agricultural policy ; Whereas the programme-will be. implemented and deve- loped in close coordination with the activities of the- framework programme, in particular the ECLAIR and FLAIR Programmes, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION : Article 1 A specific Community research and technological deve- lopment programme in the field of competitiveness of agriculture and management of agricultural resources, as